Editorial

EDITORIAL Rising from the ashes

TERESITA SOCORRO C. RAMOS Acting Chairperson, RDC XII and Regional Director, NEDA XII

This year marks the 50th founding anniversary of the highest policy-making body in the region, the Regional Development Council.

Letter of Implementation No. 22, s. of 1972 signed by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos paved the way for the establishment of the Council. Since then, RDCs have coordinated and harmonized development plans and set up policies for the benefit of the regions.

To celebrate this milestone, RDC XII adopted the theme, Mabulawanong RDC Dose: Celeberating 50 years of Regional Development.

The Council chose a phoenix as the logo for this extraordinary event. Legend tells that a phoenix has the ability to be reborn from its own ashes.

All throughout the 50 years, SOCCSKSARGEN has been through ups and downs. But we made it through as one united Council with the help and support of the four sectoral and several affiliate committees. Like the phoenix, we have risen up from the ashes, especially from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ming-Dao Deng, author and philosopher said, “Whether we remain the ash or become the phoenix is up to us.” As the resilient and united Regional Development of SOCCSKSARGEN, we chose to become the phoenix and to rise together.

Challenges may come and try the resilience of the Region, but as the united people that we are, we are confident that we will continue to surpass all of them. That is who we are, the phoenix region of SOCCKSARGEN. We shall continue to RISE together.

RISE SOCCSKSARGEN!