RTF XII Economic Response Cluster sets eyes on safely restarting SOCCSKSARGEN economy

By: Apollo Y. Manlawe, NEDA XII

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato – The Economy Response Cluster (ERC) of the Regional Task Force (RTF) on Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has set its eyes on restarting the economy of Region XII by formulating a Regional Recovery Plan (RRP). This was the overriding concern as the Committee held its joint meeting with the Rehabilitation and Recovery Committee of the RDRRMC on 27 April.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) mandates Local Government Units (LGUs) to formulate their respective Local Economy Restart Plan embodying protocols and guidelines for a new normal.

NEDA XII Regional Director Teresita Socorro C. Ramos, Chairperson of RTF on COVID-19 ERC, enjoined the LGUs to work on their ERP as they transition from ECQ to GCQ to meet the deadline for submission on May 7.

Romel Patrick E. Tanghal of NEDA

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beneficiaries from 13 RTF-ELCAC priority barangays in the Region, Abrogar stressed. The trainees from the 13 barangays which do not have access to electricity, “will own and use the solar panels for their own houses,” he added. XII, stressed in his presentation that the plans of the LGUs should contain the strategies and interventions that will allow the people of SOCCSKSARGEN to adjust and adapt to the new normal. Covering the months from May to December this year, Tanghal specified that the recovery plans should detail new normal activities in the political, economic, social, technological, infrastructure, legal and environmental well-being of communities.

To support the implementation of the plan, programs, projects, and activities (PPAs) funded under the 2020 General Appropriations Act (GAA) that are not aligned with RA 11469, or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act and other related policies shall be deferred.

RD Ramos also relayed that the government has decided to “defer” implementation of already funded projects that are not aligned with RA 11469, to support the implementation of programs, projects and activities (PPAs) supportive of recovery plan of LGUs.

The budget for the PPAs shall

instructed the members to continue moving despite the COVID-19 pandemic. He also reminded them to ensure that government services are felt by the people of the region.

The RTF-ELCAC XII is composed of members of the Regional Development Council and the

be re-programmed to fund new interventions that are intended to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ramos said, as she enumerated provision of assistance, in cash or in kind, to the vulnerable groups, including stimulus subsidies for the business sector to start-up regional socio-economic activities, among others.

The submission of RRP to OCD and RDRRMC in the region, and to NEDA Regional Development Group (RDG) is set on May 15, 2020.

Aside from the LGUs, the meeting was attended by members of the Rehabilitation and Recovery Committee and the chairpersons of four RDC XII Sectoral Committees namely: PSR Ronan Eugene C. Garcia of the Macro-Economy, Development Administration and Finance Committee (MEDAFC), PSR Alfredo P. Hebrona, Jr. of Infrastructure and Utilities Development Committee (InfraCom), PSR Rolando S. Doria of Economic and Development Committee (EDC), and Richlie Lyndon L. Magtulis of Regional Social Development Committee (RSDC).

Regional Peace and Order Council in the region. Both councils are represented by 14 Local Chief Executives, 42 heads of Regional Line Agencies, 13 Private Sector Representatives, the chief of the Philippine National Police in Region 12, and Army commanders operating in the region.