SOX COVID-19 Regional Recovery Plan set out to Rebuild Regional Economic Resiliency

By: Myra L. Sajo, NEDA XII

KORONADAL CITY –The RDC XII Sectoral Committees convened to review the first of the two (2) volumes of the Regional Recovery Plan (RRP) 2020-2022, drawn in collaboration with the Regional Line Agencies and Local Government Units in SOCCSKSARGEN.

Presided by the respective Chairpersons, the four main sectoral committees of RDC XII conducted simultaneous virtual meetings via different video conferencing platforms to discuss Volume 1 of the RRP of the region. Volume 1 of the SOX-RRP lays down the multi-sectoral strategies and interventions needed to address the challenges due to COVID-19 pandemic. The plan will provide direction towards economic recovery and restoring the momentum for the realization of AmBisyon Natin 2040. It shall serve as the guidepost in pursuit of economic stability under the new normal condition or post-pandemic state.

These interventions will be carried out by the RLAs, LGUs and other government entities covering major sectors – social, economic, political, technology, infrastructure, legal, and environment, among others.

Concerned RLAs presented the status/updates of their agency’s COVID-19 initiatives and interventions to their respective Sectoral Committees. Also, the secretariat presented to the members of the Committee the consolidated sector issues, challenges and interventions identified by the RLAs and LGUs. The LGUs also prepared their Local Economy Restart Plan, which served as inputs to the RRP.

The preparation of the RRP is guided by Economic Response Cluster Resolution No. 10, series of 2020 “Approving and Adopting the Guidelines for the Preparation of the SOX-RRP consisting of two (2) volumes, namely: Volume 1: Regional Economy Restart Plan, May to December 2020; and, b) Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan 2021-2022”. The plan preparation is in compliance with the directives of the National Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging and Infectious Diseases on rebuilding the resilience of the country and communities, and facilitating the rapid transition of the people’s way of life based on new normal.

The synchronized conferences, which transpired on May 12, concluded with a set of agreements and suggestions/ recommendations from the four (4) different committees for the further improvement of RRP volume 1 and the inclusion of the realigned PPAs of RLAs which would form part of the plan.