Regional Development Updates | Volume 18 | Number 1 | January - March 2020

RDC XII musters Advisory Committee support for 2021 budget

Development projects, service delivery assured for RCSP target villages

CONTENTS

Volume 18 | Number 1 | January - March 2020

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief TERESITA SOCORRO C. RAMOS Associate Editor MARIA FELICIDAD R. GUERRERO Contributing Editors MA. LULU E. VALENCIA GUILLERMO R. MANRIQUE, JR. GWYNETH GRACE B. COLLADO LALAINE M. SAJELAN RDU Focal Persons EDEN F. RIDAO APOLLO Y. MANLAWE EVIE A. CABULANAN MICHAEL BJ S. ABELLANA JOSEPH DIDIUS L. CLAVE MYRA L. SAJO Layout Artist APOLLO Y. MANLAWE Contributors PIA XII DOLE XII PSA XII DA XII Photos NEDA XII PIA XII DA XII The Regional Development Updates (RDU) is published quarterly by the Regional Development Council (RDC) XII with editorial office at the National Economic and Development Authority Regional Office XII, Prime Regional Government Center, Carpenter Hill, Koronadal City, South Cotabato, with Telephone No.: (083) 228-9203, Fax: (083) 228-9203. The Editorial Board reserves the right to edit the manuscript for reasons of space and clarity. RDU assumes no responsibility on unpublished and unsolicited materials.

HOW TO REACH US Do you have questions, comments or suggestions? Send your letters with complete name and address to our editorial office mentioned above, or email us at nedaxii@ nro12.neda.gov.ph/ nro12@neda.gov.ph.

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RDC XII musters Advisory Committee support for 2021 budget

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Development projects, service delivery assured for RCSP target villages

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20-bed infirmary to rise in Tampakan

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IPA-LAMDAG adds Citizens Feedback/Report for its Users

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Cong. Hernandez, Mayor Ogena grace NHA ground breaking; express support to the development of the Prime Regional Government Center in Koronadal City

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OWWA XII gives P1.1M aid to OFWs affected by COVID-19 travel ban

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Sultan Kudarat hosts 5th RTF-ELCAC XII Meeting

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Sec Dar lauds Koronadal City’s response to African swine fever

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First ‘hogstel‘ in SOCCSKSARGEN rises in Kidapawan City

RDC XII musters Advisory Committee support for 2021 budget By: Michael BJ S. Abellana, NEDA XII

BATASANG PAMBANSA, Quezon City – United by the common goal of bringing development to the SOCCSKSARGEN Region, the representatives of the eight congressional districts of SOCCSKSARGEN Region converged and consolidated their support for a more responsive, focused and results-based budget for the region in 2021.

With the Hon. Ferdinand L. Hernandez of the 2nd District of South Cotabato, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives as Convenor, the Regional Development Council (RDC) XII – Advisory Committee (AdCom) met on February 20, 2020 at Belmonte Hall, Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City. Together with the Council’s Executive Committee (ExCom), the AdCom reviewed the 2021 Budget Proposals of nine major line agencies with the most critical projects for the development of

SOCCSKSARGEN. The meeting was jointly presided by the RDC XII Chairperson, Gen. Santos City Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera and Cong. Hernandez, as Convenor. Personally present were Hon. Joselito S. Sacdalan of the 1st District of Cotabato, Hon. Rudy S. Caoagdan of the 2nd District of Cotabato, Hon. Jose I. Tejada of the 3rd District of Cotabato, Hon. Rogelio D. Pacquaio of the Lone District of Sarangani, and Hon. Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles of the 1st District of South Cotabato. Hon. Princess Rihan M. Sakaluran of the 1st District of Sultan Kudarat and Hon. Horacio P. Suansing were represented by their respective staff. Apart from the eight representatives, Hon. Alberto D. Pacquiao, representative of the OFW Party List was also invited and was represented in the meeting by his Chief of Staff. The Council’s ExCom on the other hand is composed of RDC XII

In Picture (L-R): From Top-left to Bottom-right: Hon. Ferdinand L. Hernandez, Hon. Joselito S. Sacdalan, Hon. Rudy S. Caoagdan, Hon. Jose I. Tejada, Hon. Rogelio D. Pacquaio, and Hon. Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles

Officials, and Chairpersons and Co-Chairpersons of the Council’s Sectoral Committees, namely: the Regional Social Development Committee (RSDC), Infrastructure and Utilities Development Committee (InfraCom), Economic Development Committee (EDC), and Macro-Economy, Development Administration and Finance Committee (MEDAFC).

The meeting provided a venue for the congresspersons and other members of the Committee to be updated and to consolidate their support to the region’s priority projects such as the Kabulnan 2 Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project (K2MIPP). Other RDC XII musters... page 5

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Development projects, service delivery assured for RCSP target villages By: Danilo E. Doguiles, PIA XII KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Mar. 3 (PIA) — Barangays identified for the government’s Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) are guaranteed projects that would boost economic development and ensure delivery of basic services, SOCCSKSARGEN’S cabinet officer for regional development and security (CORDS) announced last week.

TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña, CORDS 12, made the announcement in a meeting with the technical working group of the Regional Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) XII and local government unit officials in General Santos City on Thursday and in the 6th monthly meeting of the RTFELCAC XII in Kidapawan City on Friday.

“In a recent Cabinet meeting, the Department of Budget and Management announced that there

are available funds to fast-track interventions in priority barangays,” Lapeña said.

training from Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

The projected support for the RCSP priority barangays include farm-tomarket roads from the Department of Agriculture and Department of Public Works and Highways, fourclassroom school buildings from the Department of Education, potable water and sanitation projects from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and health stations from the Department of Health, he said.

In response, Dr. Fatima Emban, Assistant Regional Director of DOH XII, informed Sec. Lapeña that the health department is committed to provide health station with birthing facility as well as midwives and nurses to every RCSP priority barangays.

Although funds are assured, he emphasized, regional government agencies and the LGUs should not wait for actual downloading of the allotment but should already step up convergent initiatives in target villages such as agricultural production assistance from DA, livelihood support from the Department of Labor and Employment and Department of Trade and Industry, and skills

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Officials from DA XII and other agencies present also assured Sec. Lapeña that development efforts are ongoing in barangays identified for implementation of the RCSP. RCSP is a convergence mechanism for local government units for identification of issues and concerns in target barangay and the provision of needed government interventions and services in a whole-of-nation approach in line with the efforts to Development projects... page 8

20-bed infirmary to rise in Tampakan By: Oliver Ross Rivera, PIA XII

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Feb. 7 (PIA) – Residents of Tampakan town can expect fast and better health services soon.

South Cotabato 1st District Rep. Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles announced during the Kapihan sa PIA XII on Thursday that funds for an infirmary in Tampakan town has already been set and ready for implementation this year.

A 20-bed capacity infirmary will be built in Tampakan. Residents will no longer have to rush to

South Cotabato 1st District Rep. Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles entertains questions from local media during an episode of Kapihan sa PIA XII.

Koronadal or General Santos for their immediate medical needs, Cong. Bañas-Nograles said.

She said this is one of the priority projects identified by local officials during their consultation meetings. It is also a response to the longtime clamor of constituents to have easy access to medical services in the area.

The solon added that budget for solar street lights along the town’s main thoroughfares has been allocated.

Besides the hospital and street

light projects, the office of Rep. Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles is seeking funds for road projects identified by local officials of Tampakan as well as rehabilitation of a bridge in Barangay Libertad of the said town.

Rep. Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles also stated that among her priorities for Tupi and Polomolok towns are farm-to-market roads particularly those leading to communities with indigenous people population and hard-to-reach villages, development of agricultural areas, construction of school buildings and drainage, and the cityhood of Polomolok.

RDC XII musters... from page 3

important sectoral concerns include the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST), Tulong Dunong Scholarship, and the Budget Tracking Report for FY 2020 which showed data of Regional Line Agencies’ (RLAs) proposed budget for their FY 2020 priority programs, projects and activities (PPAs) vis-à-vis the approved budget.

More importantly however, the activity provided the congresspersons with opportunity to review the priority PPAs included in the FY 2021 proposed budget of major agencies like

DPWH XII, DepEd XII, DSWD XII, DOH XII, CHED XII, DA XII, PPA and CAAP-General Santos City. DOTr Central Office also presented their budget proposals for the improvement of the General Santos City International Airport and the Central Mindanao Airport in Tawan-tawan, M’lang, Cotabato.

A total of 20 resolutions were passed during the meeting. These include the request to utilize the DOTr fund in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the development of the Central Mindanao Airport and the endorsement of all proposed FY

2021 budget proposals of the agencies subject to the inclusion of items as instructed by the AdCom. The Committee likewise endorsed the FY 2020 projects of the region’s congresspersons under the so called Congressintroduced increases (CIIs).

The AdCom was established by virtue of Executive Order 325 to further strengthen the coordinative and consultative mechanism in the region specifically to advise, assist, and support the Council in discharging its functions. The Committee meets at least once a year.

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IPA-LAMDAG Adds Citizens Feedback/Report for its Users By: Apollo Y. Manlawe, NEDA XII

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato – The Innovative Platform for PPA’s Location Assessment, Monitoring, Investment Programming, and Budgeting for Development Planning and Governance (IPA-LAMDAG) has added a Citizens Feedback/Report for its users. The Citizen’s Feedback/Report provides an opportunity to encourage the concerned NGOs and citizens in SOCCSKSARGEN Region to participate in the monitoring and submit reports on projects being implemented in their locality.

The feedback report will facilitate and assist the implementing national government agencies, state universities and colleges (SUCs), local government units (LGUs), NEDA XII, and the Regional/Local Project Monitoring Committees (LPMCs) to further validate the actual accomplishments of projects being implemented on the ground. It was conceptualized

by Mr. Guillermo R. Manrique, Jr. of NRO XII as part of his Capstone Project under the Public Management Development Program of the Development Academy of the Philippines.

The IPA-LAMDAG system is an innovative platform adopted by the NEDA Regional Office XII in collaboration with NEDA Regional Office X, that conforms with the latest RPMES project monitoring (input and output) report formats which feature:

Mr. Candido G. Balaba, Jr., EnP of the NEDA Regional Office (NRO) X shows the importance of IPA-LAMDAG in SOCCSKSARGEN Region’s project monitoring to all users during his lecture on January 23, 2020 in Koronadal City.

geo-tagging for location point and assessment of programs, projects and activities (PPAs); online system for increased access and transparency (E-Government); and dashboard on citizen’s report/feedback on project being implemented on the ground for Citizen-centric service.

The system aims to facilitate the timely release and provision of responsive project monitoring reports and services towards improving public service delivery and response to the needs of various stakeholders.

IPA-LAMDAG can be accessed through the Regional Development Council XII website and Facebook page. The system was developed by Mr. Candido G. Balaba, Jr., EnP of the NEDA

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Regional Office (NRO) X. On January 21-23, 2020, Mr. Balaba visited Koronadal City for the installation, orientation, and training on the system. Those who participated in the activity were NEDA XII staff, and Mr. Balaba also conducted a consultation with selected regional line agencies, local government units, and Regional Development Council (RDC) XII-Private Sector Representatives.

The feedback button on the widget of the Regional Development Council XII website.

Cong. Hernandez, Mayor Ogena grace NHA ground breaking; express support to the development of the Prime Regional Government Center in Koronadal City By: Evie A. Cabulanan, NEDA XII

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato – Honorable Ferdinand Hernandez, Representative of the Second District of South Cotabato and Honorable Eliordo Ogena, Mayor of Koronadal City, expressed support to the continuing development of the Prime Regional Government Center during the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the National Housing Authority Regional Office XII on 20 December 2019. NHA Officials also graced the occasion to show support.

Mayor Ogena said that the PRGC’s improvement is one of his development priorities.

He sees PRGC as an important landmark of Koronadal City. He expressed hope that all the vacant spaces inside the PRGC would be filled with various offices to better serve the people of Koronadal City and the rest of the region who are transacting business with the government agencies.

Cong. Hernandez on the other hand, is a dynamic leader and development partner who has been consistently supporting the development of South Cotabato by helping the region and the province get the needed funds to realize major infrastructure projects. Further, he helps in the development of the PRGC to ensure better access to

By: Evie A. Cabulanan, NEDA XII

government services.

To date, a total of 16 regional agencies are already at the PRGC: Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire Protection, National Meat Inspection System, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources, Environmental Management Bureau, Mines and Geo-Science Bureau, Commission on Human Rights, Department of Agriculture, Civil Service Commission, National Economic and Development Authority, Bureau of Local Government and Finance, and the Bureau of Treasury. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency XII and DSWD XII have already constructed their office buildings, while the office buildings of the Philippine

Regulatory Commission (PRC), National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) XII, are under construction. Other offices that have conducted ground breaking ceremonies are the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) and recently, the National Housing Authority (NHA). Looking back, PRGC is one of the Kilos Abante projects of Region XII, in compliance with EO 304, series of 2004, designating Koronadal City as seat of SOCCSKSARGEN Region. As host of the regional center, Koronadal City donated 8.9 hectares of land at Barangay Carpenter Hill, Koronadal City for the establishment of the PRGC.

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OWWA XII gives P1.1M aid to OFWs affected by COVID-19 travel ban By: Oliver Ross Rivera, PIA XII

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Mar. 13 (PIA) -- The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration – SOCCSKSARGEN (OWWA XII) released a total of P1,140,000 financial aid to OFWs affected by the travel ban due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

According to OWWA XII Regional Director Marilou Sumalinog, 114 OFWs who were supposed to go back to China, Macau, Hongkong and Taiwan each received P10,000 from the government.

The cash assistance given to the affected OFWs was an immediate response of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and OWWA to the call of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to ease and lessen the burden of the would-

be departing OFWs after the government has imposed the travel ban.

Sumalinog, however, clarified that with the recent lifting of the travel ban on Macau, Hongkong and Taiwan, only OFWs from China will be eligible for the grant.

OWWA XII continues its call to stranded OFWs in the region who have not yet claimed their cash aid to immediately coordinate with their office or the nearest public OFW help desk in their municipality or city.

Applicants are required to bring valid passport, airline ticket, and proof of employment such as overseas employment certificate and contract as requirements to avail the benefit.

Meanwhile, since OWWA XII gives frontline services to OFWs, they are now implementing precautionary measures to combat COVID-19. This is to ensure that their clients, as well as their employees are safe from the disease.

“As per advisory from OWWA Central Office, OFWs from countries with identified cases of COVID-19 who arrived in the country within 14 days will not be allowed to enter our office as of yet,” Sumalinog said.

Aside from this, OWWA XII is also providing free alcohol, hand sanitizers and face mask to everyone who enter their office premises.

OWWA reiterates the government’s call, especially to OFWs to be cooperative and submit to the Department of Health’s protocols and advisories in dealing with COVID-19.

Development projects... from page 4 end local armed conflict as mandated in President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s Executive Order No. 70.

presence by the Armed Forces through their Community Support Programn (CSP).

Programs and projects to be implemented by concerned agencies are those identified and proposed by the barangays.

During the RTF-ELCAC meeting in Kidapawan City, Sec. Lapeña directed the regions’s four provincial governors to identify a pilot site from the list of RCSP barangays in their respective jurisdictions.

In SOCCSKSARGEN Region, 62 barangays are being considered for the convergence program this year.

These barangays have been cleared of communist terrorist groups’

“Under the leadership of the governors, all national government agencies – in a whole-of-nation

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approach – will deliver the projects and basic services needed. Once the initial projects are put in place in the

pilot barangays, the focus will be expanded to other barangays,” he said.

The government needs to expedite interventions in these villages to attain the objectives of Executive Order No. 70 within the administration of President Duterte, Lapeña said.

Sultan Kudarat hosts 5th RTFELCAC XII Meeting

By: Jose Anthony Laurent P. Octavio, NEDA XII

Sultan Kudarat Gov. Suharto T. Mangudadatu delivers his welcome remarks during the 5th Meeting of the RTF-ELCAC XII on January 31, 2020 in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat. From left: Ian John S. Clemente of DILG XII representing Director Josephine C. Leysa, Director Teresita Socorro P. Carrasco-Ramos of NEDA XII, Gov. Mangudadatu, Secretary Isidro S. Lapeña of TESDA, M/Gen. Diosdado C. Carreon of the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division, and Director Reynaldo V. Olaa of NSC representing Usec. Damian L. Carlos.

ISULAN, Sultan Kudarat – The Provincial Government of Sultan Kudarat headed by Governor Suharto T. Mangudadatu hosted the 5th meeting of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) XII on January 31, 2020 at the South Country View, National Highway, Dansuli, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.

TESDA Secretary Isidro S. Lapeña, PhD., CSEE, Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for SOCCSKSARGEN Region, presided over the meeting attended by the heads of different regional line agencies (RLAs), local chief executives, representatives of civil society organizations, police officers, and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

In his message, Secretary Lapeña emphasized the importance of winning the battle against poverty, injustices, and social inequalities, as these are the root causes of communist insurgency

in the country. “The government must effectively carry out good governance in the bureaucracy through building credibility, integrity, and transparency in serving the people,” he added.

Likewise, he requested the concerned RLAs to prioritize the allocation of funds for the implementation of programs and projects in the priority barangays in the region to make the people feel the presence of the government.

Governor Mangudadatu, in his welcome message, enjoined other provincial governors to host the succeeding meetings of the task force and to maximize this rare opportunity to showcase their provinces. The governor also emphasized that Sultan Kudarat is a peaceful and progressive province. He appealed to the regional directors of the different RLAs and other stakeholders to support Sultan Kudarat’s tourism industry and economy by conducting conferences, seminars, and exhibits in the province, particularly in the towns of Isulan

and Esperanza.

Among the issues discussed were: (a) the need to further intensify the efforts of the task force through good governance; (b) the implementation of programs and projects that directly address the needs of the priority communities; (c) the vital roles of local government units in pursuing localized peace engagements; (d) the issue of land conflict in Sultan Kudarat caused by the issuances of overlapping land tenurial instruments and Integrated Forest Management Agreement (IFMA); and (e) the proposed road connecting Magpet, Cotabato Province and Davao City.

Secretary Lapeña highlighted the urgency of attaining the goal of ending communist insurgency before President Rodrigo R. Duterte steps down in 2022.

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Sec Dar lauds Koronadal City’s response to African swine fever By: Danilo E. Doguiles, PIA XII

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Feb. 7 (PIA) — Agriculture Secretary William Dar praised the city government of Koronadal for their prompt response to control and contain African swine fever (ASF) infestation discovered here early in the month of February.

Sec. Dar visited Koronadal City Friday to meet with local officials and apprise measures regarding management, control, and containment of the ASF incursion here.

In the said meeting, Dar confirmed that blood samples from 11 of the 42 hogs culled from a stockyard in an urban barangay here on Tuesday tested positive for ASF. “As we have observed, the city government’s response to control ASF was commendable. Fortytwo pigs were immediately depopulated, killed, burned and buried and the area was disinfected,” he said.

He also appreciated how veterinary officials immediately monitored and collected blood samples from nearby hog farms.

All these have so far tested negative for ASF. Despite this, he emphasized, Koronadal City will still be

subjected to the Department of Agriculture’s 1-7-10 protocol.

1-7-10 protocol means that no hogs will be allowed to enter or leave within 1 kilometer from the ground zero of infection and the site is depopulated. Hogs within the 7-kilometer radius will be subjected to surveillance with restricted movement and blood testing. Those within the 10-kilometer radius from ground zero are subject to mandatory monitoring and reporting of swine disease occurrence.

Koronadal City will be declared ASF-free in two to three weeks if no additional cases of ASF are found in the city, the agriculture secretary said.

Forty-two hogs from a swine farm in Barangay Zone III were killed after its owner reported deaths from his livestock to the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian and the Office of the City Veterinarian.

The owner will receive P5,000 remuneration for every pig culled from his farm.

The businessman sourced his stock in December from Sulop, Davao del Sur where ASF cases have recently been confirmed.

In a separate interview, provincial veterinarian, Dr. Flora Bigot, said the pigs were highly suspected of ASF infection and were “condemned in accordance with

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animal welfare standards” which she explained include injecting the animal with anesthetic agent before the actual stunning.

Blood samples collected from the farm were sent to the Bureau of Animal Industry central office’s laboratory in Quezon City for confirmatory test.

South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. ordered all city and municipal mayors to beef up bio-security measures following reports of confirmed ASF in nearby Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental provinces.

Mayor Dibu Tuan of Tboli and Mayor Leonard Escobillo of Tampakan immediately issued lockdown, banning entry of live hogs, pork, and processed and unprocessed pork for entering their respective areas.

Meanwhile, besides monitoring of swine farms in its jurisdiction, the Office of the City Veterinarian immediately installed quarantine checkpoints for livestocks entering or passing through Koronadal City.

Dr. Charlemagne Calo, city veterinarian, said they have placed quarantine checkpoints that operate 24/7 in all entry points to the city. .

First ‘hogstel’ in SOCCSKSARGEN rises in Kidapawan City By: Ryan B. Tomonas, DA RAFIS XII/DED/PIA12

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Feb. 13 (PIA) -- The Department of Agriculture recently handed over to the city government of Kidapawan the first “hogstel” project in SOCCSKSARGEN Region.

Dr. Roland Fajardo, who represented Assistant Secretary for Livestock Dr. William Medrano in the ceremony, commended Kidapawan City for being the first LGU to complete the project in the region.

Mayor Joseph Evangelista received the P3.7-million hogstel project located in Barangay Kalaisan from DA XII Regional Executive Director Milagros Casis and other DA officials on January 31.

Mayor Evangelista extended his gratitude to the DA for providing hog raisers a facility that would assist them generate more income.

Aside from the hog facility, the DA also awarded to the city LGU a swine production augmentation project worth P4.1 million under the National Livestock Program.

DA also distributed sets of veterinary drugs and biologics to LGUs through its municipal, city and provincial veterinary offices in Koronadal City on January 29.

“The hogstel project, funded under the Livestock Program of the DA XII, is a hog facility that would enable swine producers to breed and fatten their animals more systematically,” Director Casis said.

The project, she added, would further boost the hog industry of the city and of the region.

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12 | Regional Development Updates | November - December 2019