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.

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.

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

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.

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

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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

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

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 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 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. 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.