SOCCSKSARGEN Regional Recovery Plan | Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan 2021-2022

© 2020 by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) XII All rights reserved. Any part of this publication may be used and reproduced, provided proper acknowledgement is made.

SOCCSKSRAGEN Regional Recovery Plan Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan 2021-2022 Published by:

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) XII NEDA XII Building, Prime Regional Government Center, Carpenter Hill South Cotabato 9506 Philippines Tel: (083) 228 9203 Email: neda12@neda.gov.ph www.neda12.neda.gov.ph Printed in the Philippines

Table of Contents PAGE

CONTENTS Table of Contents

i

List of Tables

iv

List of Figures

v

Acronyms

vi

Resolutions

xi

Messages

xv

Part I: The Planning Structure and Process

1

A. The Planning Committees and Legal Bases

3

B. The Planning Process

4

C. Plan Guiding Principles

6

D. Planning Framework

8

Part II: The Planning Environment

9

Situation Analysis 1.

11

Political

11

a.

Governance and Institutions Development

11

b.

Justice and Jail Management

13

c.

Public Finance

14

d.

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

16

e.

Peace, Security, Public Order and Safety

23

2. Economic

3.

24

a.

Macro-economy

24

b.

Agriculture and Fishery

27

c.

Industry and Services

30

d.

Tourism Development

33

a.

Health and Nutrition

43

b.

Basic Education

45

Social

34

c.

Social Protection

52

d.

Labor and Employment

53

e.

Urban and Housing Development

56

4.

Technological

59

5.

Infrastructure

61

a.

b.

Transport Development

61

a.1

Road Based Transport

61

a.2

Airport Development

63

a.3

Seaport Development

64

Water Resources Development and Management

65

b.1

Water Supply and Sanitation

66

b.2

Flood Risk Management

68

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Table of Contents c. d.

CONTENTS Electric Power Supply Development and Management Information and Communications Technology and Digital Infrastructure Development and Management

6.

Legal 7.

Environment Part III: The Plan Outcome A. SOCCSKSARGEN RRP Strategic Framework B. Sector Outcome, Major Strategies, and Sub-sector Strategies 1. Political a.

Governance and Institutions Development b.

Justice and Jail Management c.

Public Finance d.

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management e.

Peace, Security, Public Order and Safety 2.

Economic a.

Macro-economy b.

Agriculture and Fishery c.

Industry and Services d.

Tourism Development 3.

Social a.

Health and Nutrition b.

Basic Education c.

Social Protection d.

Labor and Employment e.

Urban and Housing Development 4.

Technological 5.

Infrastructure a.

Transport Development a.1 Road Based Transport a.2 Airport Development a.3 Airport Development b.

Water Resources Development and Management b.1 Water Supply and Sanitation b.2 Flood Risk Management c.

Electric Power Supply Development and Management d.

Information and Communications Technology and Digital Infrastructure Development and Management 6. Legal 7. Environment A. Priority Legislative Agenda 1. Political 2. Economic 3. Social 4. Technological 5. Infrastructure 6. Legal 7. Environment Part IV: Plan Implementation and Monitoring A. Plan Implementation Approach

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PAGE 68 71 73 75 79 81 82 82 82 85 86 87 88 89 89 89 90 91 92 92 93 95 95 96 97 100 100 100 101 101 101 101 102 102 103 105 105 106 106 107 108 113 113 115 115 117 117

Table of Contents CONTENTS B. Monitoring Mechanism and Process Part V: Strategic Communication Plan A. Objectives B. Structure and Responsible Clusters C. Platform D. Content and Messaging E. Strategy Annexes A. Output Monitoring Template B. Outcome Monitoring Template

PAGE 120 123 125 125 126 128 128 131 133 133

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List of Tables NO.C

TITLE

1

CBMS-APP Implementation as of January 30, 2020

2

List of Cancelled CY 2020 CSC Pen and Paper Tests/Competency

PAGE 12 Examinations

13

3

List of Municipalities Implemented Granular Lockdown, July-August 2020

18

4

Number of Inbound and Outbound Repatriated ROFs and LSIs in Region XII, as of July 2020 Indicators on the Management of the Dead and Missing (MDM) due to CoVID-19 in Region XII, as of July 2020 Summary of Survey on Operation of 69 Business Firms / MSMEs in Region XII, April 2020

20

5 6 7

21 22

9

Labor Force Statistics, April 2019 vs. April 2020 Number of Business Establishments and Workers Affected by Measures Adopted by the Government to Combat the Spread of COVID 19 Pandemic in Region XII, as of July 14, 2020 Estimated Foregone Revenue due to CoVID-19/ECQ, SOCCSKSARGEN Region (In PhP)

30

10

SOCCSKSARGEN Region CoVID-19 Tracker, as of July 31, 2020

31

11

COVID-19 Confirmed Case by Area, Region XII, as of July 31, 2020

35

12

Number of LSI/ROFW Tested with RT PCR, R egion 12, as of July 21, 2020

35

13

Number of Testing Centers Established and Testing Capacity, Region XII, July 20 2020

36

14

Region XII Referral Facilities, Per Province/City

15

Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities, by Area, Region XII, July 14, 2020

37 37

16

Contact Tracing Organized/Trained, by Area, Region XII, July 2020

38

17

Selected Health Indicators, Region XII, 2018-2019

38

18

Total Fertility Rate & Contraceptive Prevalence Rate, Region XII, 2013 & 2017

41

19

Teenage Pregnancy Rate, by Area, Region XII, 2017-2019

42

20

Adolescent Birth Rate, by Area, Region XII, 2017-2019

42

21

42

23

Number of Schools Without Internet Connectivity as of July 21, 2020 Number of Radio Stations and Local TV Networks per Province/City as of July 16, 2020 Emergency Employment and Assistance Programs

24

Number of Affected Establishments and Workers, Region XII

53

8

22

25 26

48 49

25

Number of Enrolees for the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program for Region XII

54

26

Number of Enrolees for the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program for Region XII

57

27

List of Cancelled CY 2020 CSC Pen and Paper Tests/Competency Examinations

83

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List of Figures NO.

TITLE

PAGE

1

Complementation of Functions Among Existing Regional Mechanisms

5

2

Milestones of RaRP Preparation and Legitimation Process

6

3

SOCCSKSARGEN RRP/RaRP Guiding Principles

6

4

SOCCSKSARGEN Planning Framework

8

5

Sectoral Distribution of Realigned Amount for the FY 2020 PPAs, Region XII.

14

6

Estimated Direct Impact of COVID-19 pandemic to the regional economy, by sector, Region XII, March 15-April 30

24

7

Figure 7. Inflation Rates in SOCCSKSARGEN Region, January to June 2019 and 2020

26

8

Comparative enrollment of SYs 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 as of September 23, 2020

46

9

Preferred Learning Modalities of Learners for SY 2020 - 2021 from the Provincial Divisions as of September 23, 2020

47

10

Comparative enrollment in private schools for SYs 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 as of September 23, 2020

49

11

Affected Establishments per City and Province, Region XII

55

12

Ambient Air Monitoring, May to June 2020

75

13

SOCCSKSARGEN RRP Strategic Framework

81

14

Monitoring Structure for the Implementation of SOCCSKSARGEN RRP: Volume 2 (RaRP)

121

15

RaRP Platform and Responsible Centers

127

16

Plan Communications Flow

130

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List of Acronyms #BKBK

#Barangay Ko, Bahay Ko

4Ps

Plant, Plant, Plant Program

AFP

Armed Forces of the Philippines

ALPAS AO BARMM BFP BIMP-EAGA

Ahon Lahat Pagkain Sapat Kontra COVID-19 Administrative Order Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Bureau of Fire Protection Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area

BJMP

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology

BLGF

Bureau of Local Government Finance

BP2

Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program

CDP

Comprehensive Development Plan

CO2

Carbon Dioxide

CAMP

COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program

CBMS

Community-Based Monitoring System

CHED

Commission on Higher Education

CIQS

Customs, Immigration, Quarantine, Security

CLUP

Comprehensive Land Use Plan

CMTS

Cellular Mobile Telephone System

COVID-19 CPDO CSC CSWDO CTGs DA DAR DENR DepED DHSUD

Corona Virus Disease 2019 City Planning and Development Office Civil Service Commission City Social Welfare and Development Office Communist Terrorist Groups Department of Agriculture Department of Agrarian Reform Department of Environment and Natural Resources Department of Education Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development

DILG

Department of the Interior and Local Government

DOE

Department of Energy

DOH

Department of Health

DOLE

Department of Labor and Employment

DOST

Department of Science and Technology

DPWH

Department of Public Works and Highways

DSWD

Department of Social Welfare and Development

DTI

Department of Trade and Industry

DUs

Distribution Utilities

EDC

Economic Development Committee

EEC

Energy Efficiency and Conservation

ELCAC

Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict

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List of Acronyms ECP

Education Continuity Plan

ECQ

Enhanced Community Quarantine

EO eBPLS FASSSTER FDA FHSIS

Executive Order Electronic Business Permit Licensing System Feasibility Analysis of Syndromic Surveillance using Spatio-Temporal Epidemiological Modeler for Early Detection of Diseases Food and Drug Administration Field Health Service Information System

FGD

Focus Group Discussion

GAD

Gender and Development

GCQ

General Community Quarantine

GECS GID GIDAs GIS

Government Emergency Communications System Governance and Institutions Development Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas Geographic Information System

HCPN

Health Care Provider Network

HEIs

Higher Education Institutions

IAs IATF-TWG-AFP

Irrigation Associations Inter-Agency Task Force-Technical Working Group on Anticipatory and Forward Planning

ICT

Information and Communications Technology

IEC

Information, Education and Communication

IMAG IMT InfraCom IPs

Infrastructure Monitoring and Advisory Group Incident Management Team Infrastructure and Utilities Development Committee Indigenous Peoples

IUUF

Illegal, Unregulated, Unreported Fishing

IWRM

Integrated Water Resource Management

JAGS-CT

Jose Abad Santos-Glan-Sarangani Island-Cooperation Triangle

LGUs

Local Government Units

LPCC

Local Price Coordinating Council

MC MEDAFC MERS-CoV MFP MPSA

Memorandum Circular Macro-Economy, Development Administration, and Finance Committee Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Mining Forest Program Mineral Production Sharing Agreements

MRBMC

Mindanao River Basin Management Council

MSMEs

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

MVUC NBP NDAPSPSS NDRRMP NEDA

Motor Vehicle User’s Charge National Broadband Plan National Drive Against Professional Squatting and Professional Squatting Syndicates National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Plan National Economic and Development Authority

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List of Acronyms NHTS

National Household Targeting System

NIA

National Irrigation Administration

NMMS

New Market Management System

NOx OP OPLAN OK OPD OWWA PAPs PDL PDRRM PDEA PDPFP

Nitrogen Oxides Office of the President Operation Plan OPLAN Kalusugan Outpatient Department Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Programs/Projects Person Deprived of Liberty Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Management Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan

PKI

Public Key Infrastructure

PM

Particulate Matter

PNP

Philippine National Police

PPE

Personal Protective Equipment

PSA

Philippine Statistics Authority

PTB

Passenger Terminal Building

QP

Quarantine Pass

QR

Quick Response

R&D RA RAT RE REAP

Research and Development Republic Act Rapid Antibody-based Test Renewable Energy Resettlement Emergency Assistance Program

RET

Renewable Energy Technologies

RDC

Regional Development Council

RDP

Regional Development Plan

RDRRMC RERP RIATF-EID

Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council Regional Economy Restart Plan Regional Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases

RLAs

Regional Line Agencies

ROW

Right-of-Way

RPMC

Regional Project Monitoring Committee

RPOC

Regional Peace and Order Council

RPS

Renewable Portfolio Standards

RRC

Rehabilitation and Recovery Committee

RSDC

Regional Social Development Committee

RT-PCR

Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction

viii | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

List of Acronyms RTF

Regional Task Force

SAG

Sand and Gravel

SAP

Social Amelioration Program

SARS-CoV SDMP SIPs SOCCSKSARGEN SOx

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Social Development and Management Program Small Irrigation Projects South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos Sulphur Oxides

SRIP

Small River Impounding Project

SSM

Small-scale mining

STI

Science, Technology, and Innovation

SUCs

State Universities and Colleges

SWMP

Solid Waste Management Plan

TDP TUPAD

Transmission Development Plan Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced or Disadvantaged Workers

TWG

Technical Working Group

VCO

Virgin Coconut Oil

VOCs

Volatile Organic Compounds

WASH

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

WESM

Wholesale Electricity Spot Market

WFH

Work From Home

WHO

World Health Organization

WinS

WASH in Schools

WST

Water Saving Technology

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Republic of the Philippines

NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (RDC) XII SOCCSKSARGEN Region

Message We welcomed 2020 with much positive outlook, and energized spirits.

However, all of a sudden, things didn’t go as smoothly as we expected. Worst, we never really imagined that we would encounter such a complex calamity in our lifetime. Situations we often see only in movies suddenly become our life experiences. The 2019 novel Corona virus that causes the dreaded disease, COVID-19, has been sweeping the world in unprecedented ways. It hampered global economies on full scale, shut down aviation and other service-oriented industries, claimed the lives of millions, imposed different kinds and levels of poverty even to those who are wealthy and in power, challenged our patience and survivability, and, most of all, tested our faith in humanity.

One reason why we all experienced these pitfalls, anxieties and uncertainties is that we are not prepared. If there are things that COVID-19 has positively brought, it taught us moral lessons in life. It made us realize how vulnerable we were, and at the same time, how resilient we are. Even if this crisis has placed the carts before the horses, what is important is that we can still see the silver lining beyond this cloud.

As part of our government’s response, we have to ensure that our trees in the region get enough water and continue to bear fruits. It is about time that our economy bounce back to its stratospheric state as we prepare for the “new normal” in our region. The SOCCSKSARGEN Regional Recovery Plan (RRP) 2020-2022 will guide us in navigating the rampaging waves of transition: from a locked down state to a healing and recovering phase toward attaining the “matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay para sa lahat” by 2040. xvi | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

On behalf of the Regional Development Council (RDC) XII, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude and warm congratulations to the Economy Response Cluster of the Region XII Task Force on COVID-19, the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infecious Diseases (RIATF-EID XII), Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) XII, for endorsing this plan. Likewise, I would also like to acknowledge and commend the efforts of our various development partners, the stakeholders, and the Secretariat for all their contributions throughout the process of completing this “regional blueprint of economic recovery, rehabilitation, resiliency and sustainability.”

As the Chairperson of RDC XII, I am appealing for everyone’s continued cooperation, utmost commitment, and unwavering dedication to become proactive and engaged citizens in winning this war against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Together in the SOCCSKSARGEN Region, We Heal as One!, We Recover as One!

HON. RONNEL C. RIVERA RDC XII Chairperson, and Mayor, General Santos City

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Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Region XII

Message My heartfelt congratulations to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) XII), the Regional Development Council (RDC) XII Secretariat, for completing the SOCCSKSARGEN Regional Recovery Plan (SOX RRP) 2020-2022. The RRP has already received endorsements from the four (4) RD XII Sectoral Committees and was approved during the Joint RDC, RDRRMC, RIATF-EID-CoVID 19 Meeting last August 12, 2010 under the Omnibus Resolution 202-025 dated 5 August 2020. In essence, this Recovery Plan will serve as pur blueprint to rise up from the devastation brought about by the CoVID 19 pandemic.

As the Chairperson of the RIATF-EID XII, I express my deep gratitude to this jpoint undertaking of the Regional Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) XII, the REgional Development Council (RDC) XII, the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of tvihe Emerging Infectious Disease (RIATF-EID) and the Region XII Task Force on CoVID 19, whcih came out at the time when we are going through an unprecedented and all-ecompassing crisis.

Indeed we are in an unfamiliar territory but we were able tohandle a lot of chsallenges already. Our tasks are far from being done but somehow, we can manage to look back at how distant we are from the starting pint. Through it all, our readiness and resilience had been tested and we gained better perspectives to take a few more steps forward.

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On behalf of RIATF-EID XII, Icommend all the other framers of RRP who have put in their best efforts in coming up with this Recovery Plan.

May this journal be a testimony of the brand of “forward-thinking collective leadership” that the leaders of Region XII pocess, for thebenefit of its people.

Mabuhay po kayo!

JOSEPHINE F. CABRIDO-LEYSA, CESO III Chairperson, RIATF-EID XII, Head Secretariat, RPOC XII, and Regional Director, DILG XII

xx | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

Republic of the Philippines Department of National Defense Office of the Civil Defense REGIONAL DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT COUNCIL SOCCSKSARGEN Region

Message The devastating impact of CoVID-19 had slowly taken our freedom and compromised our economic stability as the number of CoVID-19 confirmed positive individuals increases daily.

Everyone has been advised to restrict non-essential movements and to comply with the stay-at-home policy. Business and non-essential establishments temporarily stopped operations resulting in loss of income and other economic opportunities for the sector.

On the other hand, while the rest of the society observed the quarantine protocols, the government proactively prepared the plan to restart the economy from the negative effects of CoVID-19 and ensure the societal rehabilitation and resiliency towards the new normal.

This SOCCSKSARGEN Regional Recovery Plan (SOX RRP) Volume 2 is among the plans prepared that would holistically concretize our actions to mitigate the adverse impact brought by the pandemic. The plan aims to sustain the momentum we gained during the economy restart phase towards strengthening our resiliency under the new normal condition. This plan shall also serve as the transition plan under President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s administration and shall serve as the framework of other thematic plans for CoVID-19.

Just as we are taking bolder steps in safeguarding our people against the pandemic, we must sustain the implementation of regional level strategies as embodied in the SOX RRP. Moreover, as Chairperson of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) XII, we would like to express our Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | xxi

commitment in providing support to the different Regional Line Agencies and the Local Government Units in the fight against this pandemic, as well as in managing other disasters in the region.

As we move forward amid the pandemic, we have to face the challenges squarely, and continually strive to achieve our goals through concerted actions and whole of government approach. Let us rekindle the “Filipino Bayanihan Spirit” so we could surmount the impact of this pandemic and let SOCCSKSARGEN Region HEAL AS ONE and recover as one.

MINDA C. MORANTE Chairperson, RDRRMC XII, and Regional Director, OCD XII

xxii | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

Republic of the Philippines NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (RDC) XII SOCCSKSARGEN Region

Foreword

The Corona Virus 19 (CoVID-19) pandemic exposed the vulnerabilities the citizens of different nations are facing.

This common threat across the globe has changed the methods of managing mitigation measures and responses to contain the spread of the disease. We witnessed just how the entire world encountered varying levels of difficulties in handling this crisis and battling the virus at their respective home fronts.

Our traditional way of life has been suddenly changed to living under the new normal condition. However, on top of perilous period, we have seen the resiliency of the human spirit to rise and promote solidarity, service, sacrifice and search for innovation in order to adapt to the new normal.

The Regional Recovery Plan (RRP) Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan (RaRP) 2021-2022 was prepared based on the mandate given to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) under existing laws. Furthermore, the plan formulation exercise is an imprimatur from the National Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging and Infectious Disease (IATF-EID) as embodied on Resolution No. 16 series on 2020 particularly the Technical Working Group on Anticipatory and Forward Planning (IATF-EID TWG-AFP).

At the regional level, the Region XII Task Force on CoVID 19-Economy Response Cluster passed Resolution No. 10 series of 2020 which approved and adopted the Guidelines for the Preparation of the RRP. The RRP has two (2) volumes, as follows: Volume 1: Regional Economy Restart Plan (RERP), May-December Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | xxiii

2020; and Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan (RaRP) 2021-2022. The RRP is an integration of regional and local challenges, goal, outcomes, strategies, legislative agenda, programs/projects/activities, implementation and monitoring structures and a communications plan that is intended for the people, sectors and public institutions/private entities in SOCCSKSARGEN to facilitate transition and adapt to the new normal.

On behalf of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) XII in its capacity as the RDC XII Secretariat, allow me to extend our gratitude to the members of the four (4) RDC XII Sectoral Committees which was constituted as the Planning Committees that endeavoured to craft this plan in a consultative, participatory, and inclusive process. We acknowledge the unwavering commitment and efforts of the Regional Line Agencies (RLAs), Local Government Units (LGUs), State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), other National Government Instrumentalities, as well as the Private Sector/Civil Society Organizations in ensuring the completion of this lan. Finally, this Volume 2: RaRP 2021-2022 shall serve as blueprint towards achieving the RRP goal of leaving no one behind in restarting forward better and resilient communities and economy.

In Region XII, We Heal as One, We Recover as One!

TERESITA SOCORRO C. RAMOS Vice-Chairperson, RDC XII, Vice-Chairperson for Rehabilitation and Recovery, RDRRMC XII, Chairperson, RTF XIIEconomy Response Cluster, and Regional Director NEDA XII

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Part 1

PLANNING STRUCTURE AND PROCESS A. The Planning Committees and Legal Bases ThepreparationoftheSOCCSKSARGENRegionalEconomyRe-startPlan(RERP)isajoint undertaking of the Region XII Task Force on CoVID-19 (RTF-CoVID 19), the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) XII-Rehabilitation and Recovery Committee (RRC) and the Regional Development Council (RDC) XII together with its Sectoral Committees, namely: Macro-Economy, Development Administration, and Finance Committee (MEDAFC), Economic Development Committee (EDC), Regional Social Development Committee (RSDC), and the Infrastr The preparation of theSOCCSKSARGENRegionalEconomyRe-startPlan(RERP)isajointundertakingofthe RegionXIITaskForceonCoVID-19(RTF-CoVID19),theRegionalDisasterRiskReduction ManagementCouncil(RDRRMC)XII-Rehabilitation andRecoveryCommittee(RRC)and the Regional Development Council (RDC) XII together with its Sectoral Committees, namely: Macro-Economy, Development Administration, and Finance Committee (MEDAFC), Economic Development Committee (EDC), Regional Social Development Committee (RSDC), and the Infrastructure and Utilities Development Committee (InfraCom). The RTF XII-CoVID 19 was created through the Regional Peace and Order Council(RPOC)XIIandRDRRMCXIIResolutionNo.05seriesof2020whichwaspassedon March18,2020duringthejointmeetingofbothCouncils.Thecollaborativeapproachwas adopted to ensure the utilization of existing planning mechanisms, complementation or harmonization of functions and prevent the waste of time, resources and efforts of the participating entities from government and the private sector.

RepublicAct(RA)10121orthePhilippineDisasterRiskReductionManagement(PDRRM) Act of 2010, provides that the Response Clusters of the DRRMCs for COVID-19 at the national, regional, and local levels implement preventive, preparatory, responsive, and early recovery measures in anticipation of the worst-case scenario insofar as the COVID-19 health event is concerned. Consequently, as the arm for post-disaster planning, the Rehabilitation and Recovery Cluster/Sub-Committee of the National, Regional and Local DRRMCs were likewise directed to formulate their respective RRPs. Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 3

Executive Order (EO) 325 series of 1996 designated the RDC to spearhead and coordinate development planning activities in the region. The RDC XII Sectoral Committees, namely: Macro-Economy, Development Administration and Finance Committee (MEDAFC), Economic Development Committee (EDC), Regional Social Development Committee (RSDC), and the Infrastructure and Utilities Development Committee (InfraCom) were convened to act as lead planning committees to discuss the challenges encountered, gaps/issues/ concerns identified, targeted outcomes and strategies in the RERP. The RDC XII SecComs are composed of multi-sector, as well as multi-area membership which ensure inclusivity and multi-stakeholder participation in planning for Region XII under the new normal.

B. The Planning Process The preparation of the RERP has gone through levels of technical assessment, analysis, processing, review, and enhancement inorder to capture the perspectives of different stakeholdergroupsinthepublicandprivatesectorsandcontributionsfromtheregional and local levels. The planning exercise commenced with the adoption of the guidelines in preparing the plan document. The approval of the planning guidelines and the time which involved data gathering until the plan adoption was realized through Resolutions 10 and 11 series of 2020 of the Economy Response Cluster of the RTF XII-COVID 19.

The guidelines served as the principal basis in preparing this plan which contained the strategies and interventions that will allow the people of SOCCSKSARGEN Region to adjust and adapt to the new normal situation.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Office XII, being the technical secretariat of RDC XII and its SecComs, utilized planning tools such as, PESTILE:P-Political/E-Economic/S-Social/T-Technological/I-Infrastructure/L-Legal/ E-EnvironmentandtheSOAR:S-Strengths/O-Opportunities/A-Aspirations/R-Results matrices,NewNormalvalidationmatrix,onlinesurveyinstruments,virtualfocusedgroup discussions (FGDs) that facilitated the generation of necessary data and information.

The inputs were sourced from the regional line agencies, LGUs, the academe, the private sector representatives and business organizations of SOCCSKSARGEN. Also, the vertical integration of the local dimension into the RRP was made possible through the Local Economy Restart Plan of the Provinces of Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and the Cities of Cotabato, General Santos, Kidapawan, Koronadal, and Tacurong. The process allowed the LGU inputs to be integrated into the SOX-RRP and was done using a two (2)-pronged approach: a) through the LGUs’ membership in the RDC XII Sectoral Committees’ virtual planning workshops; and b) NEDA XII technical assistance to LGUs for the formulation of the Provincial/City Economy Restart Plans (P/C-ERPs). Figure 1 illustrates the complementation of functions among existing mechanisms that was adopted in preparing the plan.

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Figure 1

Complementation of Functions Among Existing Regional Mechanisms that in the Preparing the RRP 2020-2022

Source of data: NEDA XII

The process of preparing Volume 2 included the following major activities: • June 5 -Presentation of the Plan Outline and Timelines during the Joint Meeting of RTFXIIonCOVID-19EconomyResponseClusterandRIATF-EIDXIIAnticipatoryand Forward Planning TWG • June19-TechnicalBriefingforAgencyPlanningOfficersandProvincial/CityPlanning and Development Coordinators • July 20- NEDA XII Peer Reviewer and Internal Consistency Consultations • July 21-23- Validation Workshop of the RDC XII Planning Committees with the following resolutions endorsing their respective sections in the RRP: • Macroeconomy, Development Administration, and Finance Committee (MEDAFC) Resolution No. 22 series of 2020; • Economic Development Committee (EDC) Resolution No. 23 series of 2020; • InfrastructureandUtilitiesDevelopmentCommittee(InfraCom)ResolutionNo. 23, series of 2020; and • Regional Social Development Committee (RSDC) Resolution No. 18, series of 2020.

• August12-EndorsementthroughRDRRMC-(RDC)XIIExecutiveCommittee(ExCom)RIATF-EID XII-RTF XII-CoVID-19 Joint Resolution No.1 series of 2020 Figure 2 shows the timeline of the plan preparation and legitimation process.

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Figure 2

Milestones of RaRP Preparation and Legitimation Process

C. Plan Guiding Principles From the conceptualization of the planning guidelines and the framework until the identification of challenges and formulation of strategies and legislative agenda, there was a deliberate effort to adhere to the key principles that guided the entire RERP preparation under the overall banner of “We Heal as One, We Recover as One.” The preparation of SOX RRP Volume 2 followed five guiding principles of: a) Convergence or strategicpartnership:b)BayanihanSpirit;c)Inclusive-ensuringthatnooneisleftbehind in our fight against the pandemic; d) Volunteerism; and, e) Accelerated adaptation towards sustained resiliency Figure 3 shows the plan guiding principles.

Figure 3

SOCCSKSARGEN RRP/RaRP Guiding Principles

6 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

Convergence and strategic partnership involves the sustainable engagement, complementation and convergence of efforts and resources by government, the private sector, civil society and volunteer groups towards the relief, recovery, rehabilitation and resiliency of the people, activities, institutions and the entirety of Region XII from the problems brought about by the pandemic. The joining together of the different stakeholders envisages once again the whole-of-region approach which has been a trademark in SOCCSKSARGEN. Also, the convergence and strategic partnership is highlighted in the development activities of the Regional Task Force on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF XII-ELCAC) and now with the pandemic and the new normal, this best practice approach of SOCCSKSARGEN will again be adopted and undertaken.

Anchored on the basic principle of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which is “Leaving No One Behind,” the inclusivity element pertains to the integration and consideration of all sectors and areas of SOCCSKSARGEN in the plan. Furthermore, inclusivity also refers to the all out effort to provide access and opportunities with the end view that everyone will benefit from the restart, recovery, rehabilitation and resiliency objectives espoused in the RRP. The inclusivity principle likewise builds on the mainstreaming of Gender and Development (GAD) as a development perspective and process that is participatory and empowering, equitable, sustainable, free from violence, respectful of human rights, supportive of selfdetermination, and actualization of human potentials.

Accelerated adaptation towards resiliency is associated with facilitating the immediate transition of the traditional lifestyle to the new normal condition as a result of the pandemic.

The hastened shift to accepting the new way of life amidst the imposition of health standard protocols will help the people and the region adapt from recovery to resilience. Likewise, the resiliency of the SOCCSKSARGEN region shall be aggressively promoted, mainstreamed and practiced inorder to increase the adaptive capacities of the people, resources, socioeconomic activities under the new normal condition.

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The Filipino’s spirit of volunteerism shall be the core modality in harnessing citizen engagement to increase public participation in government affairs and promote a consultative process in policy and decision-making.

Volunteering is popularly defined as a service-act of one’s own freewill for the benefit of others and the community.

The COVID-19 pandemic has tested humanity and in Region XII there is no shortage in the display of the spirit of volunteerism from all walks of life and different sectors of society. Such good deeds of service for people and community has offered a ripple effect of optimism that SOCCSKSARGEN, in solidarity with the country and the rest of the world, will heal as one and will recover as one.

D. Planning Framework The formulation of the SOX RRP took off from the “We Recover as One” assessment and planning document prepared by the IATF-Anticipatory and Forward Plan-TWG headed

by NEDA. To ensure that local issues and concerns in addressing the pandemic are integrated in the RRP, the provincial/city Economy Restart Plans were considered and now forms part of the annex of the RRP. The SOX RRP adopted the phasing of priorities for COVID19 interventions that are categorized into the four Rs, namely: relief, recovery, rehabilitation and resiliency. The green boxes in the framework are part of Volume 1, the Regional Economy Restart Plan and the yellow boxes are now the focus on Volume 2 that shall cover the years 2021 and 2022. AllthestrategiesandoutcomesintheSOX-RRParegearedtowardsfasttransition and quick adaptation of SOCCSKSARGEN in the new and better normal way of life.

Figure 4

SOCCSKSARGEN Planning Framework

8 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 9

10 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

Part 2

THE PLANNING ENVIRONMENT Situation Analysis 1. Political a.

Governance and Institutions Development

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc across the globe since the early part of 2020 and may continue to become as destructive in the coming months or more.

Its magnitude and impact, if left unchecked, may dwarf the Spanish Flu that menaced the globe a century ago. The irony is that, despite the interconnected nature of our globalizedsocietyandeconomyandtheconstantproliferationofreal-timeinformation in the quad media, the virus had thrived and remained unyielding in most areas, particularly to those which populations are most vulnerable.

Assessment The pandemic has summoned the political leaders in SOCCSKSARGEN Region to be steadfastandagileindeliveringtheirresponses;inmakingcriticaldecisionsonmatters relating to resource allocations; and being accessible for their constituencies during emergencies.

Government officials are placed in this challenging situation while in the midst of disassociated/contradicting policies; complacency of some of their counterparts to recognize the clear and present danger posed by the virus; information overload coupled with flooding fake news, and rapidly metamorphosing events.

In crisis governance, time is of the essence. The public officials’ inability to respond oncall may cause the damage to become irreversible and difficult to contend with, leaving the people completely overwhelmed by fear and paralysis.

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Meanwhile, LGUs have not yet complied with the updating/formulation of their respective mandated local plans. Their respective Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) also needs periodic updating. The database contained therein is vital in the delivery of quick response initiatives of the government. This could also greatly easethegovernmentandotherstakeholders’effortstoidentifyaffectedindividualsand design probable scenarios, and to formulate sound measures.

As of January 2020, only the cities of Kidapawan and Tacurong have completed the four training (4) modules on the use of CBMS App that is currently being introduced by the DILG XII for the periodic updating of LGU CBMS databases. The said two cities have already incorporated their CBMS data into their respective CDPs. The App, which canbeaccessed/operatedusingandroidtablets,willaidlocalenumerators,editorsand field coordinators in the data gathering (Module 1), processing and poverty mapping (Module 2), and integration of the database into the local planning process (Modules 3 and 4). The rest of Region XII LGUs have already completed Modules 1 and 2 and still need to complete the remaining two (2) modules. The funds for the training and procurement of android devices were sourced from the Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB) project of DILG XII with counterparts from concerned LGUs. Table 1

CBMS-APP Implementation as of January 30, 2020

Source of data: DILG XII 12 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

Table 2 List of Cancelled CY 2020 CSC Pen and Paper Tests/Competency Examinations NAME OF EXAMINATION

ORIGINAL SCHEDULE

RESET SCHEDULE

1.

Career Service Examination – PPT (Professional)

March 15, 2020

2021

2.

Career Service Examination – PPT (Sub-Professional)

March 15, 2020

2021

3.

Fire Officer Examination

June 21, 2020

2021

4.

Penology Officer Examination

June 21, 2020

2021

5.

Basic Competency on Local Treasury Examination

June 21, 2020

2021

6.

Career Service Examination – PPT (Professional)

August 9, 2020

2021

7.

Career Service Examination – PPT (Sub-Professional)

August 9, 2020

2021

8.

Intermediate Competency on Local Treasury Examination

October 11, 2020

2021

9.

Pre-Employment Test

October 11, 2020

2021

10.

Promotional Test

October 11, 2020

2021

11.

Ethics-Oriented Personality Test

October 11, 2020

2021

Source of data: CSC XII

Challenges • Most government frontline transactions in the region are not yet interactive/online i.e., vehicle registration and driver’s license renewal, payment of fees and charges, franchises and business permits app/ renewal, etc.; • The updating of CBMS of Region XII LGUs is not yet completed; • Cancellation of Civil Service eligibility examinations.

b.

Justice and Jail Management

During the assessment period, March to June 2020, the current jail congestion rate in the region is recorded at 327 percent.

The Amnesty International (AI), a human rights advocate, has issued multiple early warnings to the Philippine government on the possible outbreak of COVID-19 in the country’s jails/prisons owing to the overcrowding and inadequate access to basic health care services including food, water, hygiene that are obtaining inside the facilities holding the PDLs. AI added that the Philippine government must urgently safeguard the health of PDLs, this after COVID-19 cases have been reported in some detention facilities in the country.

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c.

Public Finance

Fiscal and monetary actions to finance emergency initiatives and keep the economy afloat is necessary to mitigate the adverse impact of COVID-19 pandemic. The government has provided budgetary support to help frontliners fight the pandemic and provide relief to people and sectors affected by the virus-induced slowdown in economic activity. With the response programs the government has laid down, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) issued National Budget Circular (NBC) 580 calling for economic measures in the public sector to realign their budgets for the CY 2020.

For SOCCSKSARGEN Region, the total realigned FY 2020 Programs/Projects/ Activities (PPAs) to address COVID-19 amounted to PhP 55.43 Billion. The bulk of the investment program or about 47.54 percent was allocated to the Social Services sector, followed by the Transportation and Economic sectors at around 19.69 percent and 18.62 percent, respectively. The Environment sector posted about 9.33 percent while the Governance sector got the least allocation with 4.83 percent. The realigned PAPs were based on the submission of regional line agencies and local government units in the region. Figure 5 illustrates the sectoral distribution of the realigned amount for the FY 2020 PPAs. Figure 5 Sectoral Distribution of Realigned Amount for the FY 2020 PPAs, Region XII

Likewise, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue Region No. 18 continued its regular function of collecting taxes to raise revenues for the government.

Primary sources of collection came from taxpayer’s registration fees, payments from taxes on individual and corporate income, value-added taxes, percentage taxes, excise taxes and other taxes. A total of PhP 3.8 billion tax collection for the first semester of 2020 was still short by 7.63 percent compared to previous year’s collection amounting to PhP4.2 billion for the same semester. On the contrary, the collection from January to June 2020 exceeded by 14.02 percent as compared to the target of PhP3.4 billion for the first semester of 2020.

14 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

The pandemic has forced businesses to temporarily shut down or even worse closed down their operations due to the implemented lockdown in the region.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) XII reported a total of seven (7) and 1,629 establishments have permanently and temporarily closed due to COVID-19 crisis, respectively. To provide enough time for the businesses to recover from the series of lockdown, several LGUs have issued ordinances extending moratorium on the payment of business and real property taxes. The following LGUs with ordinances/issuances extending deadlines of these type of taxes were the provinces of Cotabato, Sarangani and South Cotabato; the cities of Koronadal, General Santos, Kidapawan and Cotabato, and the municipalities of Banga, Magpet and President Roxas.

In addition, monetary instruments and regulatory relief measures have been promptly implemented by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to cushion the pandemic’s effect on the economy. Bayahanihan to Heal as One Act or RA 11469 stipulates that lenders may impose a grace period for loan payments with due dates within the enhanced community quarantine and modified enhanced community quarantine period.

Challenges a. The mandatory 10 percent slash in CY 2020 budget of RLAs and realigned PPAs. The realignment of funds for COVID-19 will affect socio-economic targets, implementation of interventions to reduce poverty and meet commitments in Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) 2015-2030 and Paris 2020. The aim of the DBM budget circular is to observe fiscal prudence in managing the government funds without compromising the response measures to the emergency health situation and programs to support the affected economic sectors.

Programs and projects to address the impact of COVID-19 were prioritized in CY 2020 and recovery programs for CY 2021 will also be given importance to be able to revive the economy in the coming years.

Thus, implementation of interventions in achieving stronger foundation for inclusive

growth, a high-trust society, and a globallycompetitive economy toward realizing the vision by 2040 may be disrupted with the realignment of budget for COVID-19 response.

Alarming setbacks can be expected in the Philippines’ and Region XII’s commitments to the roadmap for humanity or the SDGs as the crisis could push back people in poverty due to lockdown and the increase in unemployment rates which will have a ripple effect on other SDG indicators.

Increased deficit spending of the government to supplement the depleting funds for COVID-19 initiatives. The projected decline in government revenues because of recovering economic activities and the increased government spending due to COVID-19 response and mitigating measures is expected to put pressure on the country’s fiscal position in 2020 and 2021.

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b. Low utilization rate of the Bayanihan Grant to Provinces, Cities and Municipalities.

The National Government released the Bayanihan Grant to provinces, cities and municipalities to help better respond to the impact of COVID-19. However, DBM Circular Letter No. 2020-10 provides that there is a relatively low utilization rate of the allocations of the LGUs from the Bayanihan

Grant. In the same circular, DBM reported to have a low number of LGUs that send a written notice to the said office regarding the posting of their respective reports on fund utilization and status of implementation of PPAs, which is required under Local Budget Circulars (LBC) No. 125 and 126.

c. Closure of business establishments and extension/temporary moratorium in payment of local taxes, fees affect the fiscal position of LGUs. Some LGUs have extended the moratorium on the payment of business and real property taxes for the current year until the end of September 2020. A decline in LGU’s fiscal capacity is expected due to these issuances.

The reopening of business establishments is still undergoing a gradual recovery phase from their losses incurred during the period when the region was under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

d. Low availment of the business sector, MSMEs to avail of the bank loan facility with lower interest rate (1.75 percent for overnight deposit and 2.75 percent for lending facilities) when there is still reduced business activities due to existing quarantine protocols.

Given the uncertainty the COVID-19 has brought in the economy and the absence of a vaccine for COVID-19, MSMEs and business establishments are reluctant in availing of bank loan facilities with lower interest rates to assist their day-to-day operations.

Business activities are still relatively slower because of existing quarantine protocols such as maintaining physical distance in establishments and with the change of consumer preferences on essential goods and services.

d. Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) As defined in Republic Act (RA) 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Act of 2010, DRRM is a systematic process in implementing strategies, policies, and improved coping capacities to lessen the adverse impact of hazards and the possibility of disasters.

To mitigate the spread of the Corona Virus Diseases 2019 (COVID19), President Rodrigo Roa Duterte issued Presidential Proclamation Number 922 series of 2020 declaring a State of Public Health Emergency, and Presidential Proclamation 16 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

Number 929 series of 2020 which placed the entire country under the State of Calamity for a period of six (6) months, unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances warrant.

The said proclamations were supplemented by the RA 11469 or the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act”, outlining the specific role of the government in addressing the pandemic and also served as the guide for the convergence with the private sector and other stakeholders in augmenting to the limited resources of the government.

Assessment The occurrence of the pandemic opened opportunities to strengthen the implementation of actions among the various key players of society. The situation likewise intensified collaboration and convergence among the different government agencies and private entities since the pandemic was able to mitigate the risk posed by the pandemic especially to the most vulnerable sectors of the society. Building mutual partnerships and strengthening cooperation between stakeholders are evident during the preparedness, humanitarian response action, and bridging resiliency against the spread of the disease. Multi-stakeholders’ convergence was instrumental in the delivery and compliance of following DRRM activities:

a. Mainstreaming of DRRM in Physical and Land Use Plans, Comprehensive Development Plans, and other Thematic Plans The four (4) provinces in the region have commenced planning activities for the updating of its respective Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP). Specifically, the Province of South Cotabato is already in the review phase of the Regional Land Use Committee (RLUC) XII Technical Working Group. The Province of Cotabato is currently updating the hazard maps to consider fault lines that triggered earthquakes in the province in 2019, while the Provinces of Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat are in the data generation phase.

Meanwhile, municipal and city LGUs of Region XII have likewise started engaging the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) for the updating of the CLUP. The DRR-CCA

enhanced CLUP shall be the reference document of the LGUs in updating their respective Comprehensive Development Plans (CDPs), wherein the DILG XII has set the deadline for the submission of the approved CDP by September 2020. Given such a directive, it is imperative that the LGUs have to update the long-term plan to ensure the alignment of the strategies indicated in its respective CDP. Five (5) LGUs had already their approved DRR-CCA enhanced CLUP while the remaining 46 percent are still in the updating process. About 42 percent of the LGUs had an outdated CLUP and had not undergone the preparatory training on the formulation of DRR-CCA enhanced CLUP being conducted by DHSUD. Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 17

In the updated CLUPs/PDPFPs, it is expected that the LGUs have to identify locations of Isolation Facilities for pandemics and classify the land use category where these will be established. It is important that the isolation facilities should follow standard distance from residential and populated areas.

Regarding the CDP status in the region, 24 municipalities have outdated CDPs while the Municipality of Alabel in Sarangani Province has no approved CDP. Table No. 2 shows the status of the LGUs with DRRCCA-enhanced CLUP.

Table 3 Status of LGUs DRR-CCA enhanced CLUP in Region XII, as of June 2020 INDICATORS

Approved DRR-CCA enhanced CLUP

NUMBER OF LGUS

PERCENTAG E(%)

5

10

Cotabato

1

Sarangani

1

South Cotabato

2

General Santos City

1

For Monitoring (LGUs already undergo training with DHSUD in the preparation of the said document)

23

Cotabato

6

Sarangani

5

South Cotabato

5

Sultan Kudarat

7

For Revision (Outdated CLUP and the LGUs had not yet undergone the training with DHSUD)

21

Cotabato

11

Sarangani

1

South Cotabato

4

Sultan Kudarat

5

For Formulation (no approved CLUP)

1

Sultan Kudarat

1

Total

50

Source of data: Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSUD) XII

18 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

46

42

2

100

b. Formulation and Updating of the Public Sector Continuity and Contingency Plans The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) issued Memorandum No. 57 series of 2020 mandating that LGUs and the Regional Line Agencies (RLAs) of SOCCSKSARGEN to update the respective Public Service Continuity Plans (PSCPs) and Contingency Plans (CPs) mainstreaming the ongoing public health emergency.

The PSCP shall emphasize the importance of ensuring the safety of all disaster managers, coordinators, responders and the citizenry.

Likewise, the updating shall include risk assessment and control measures for the

continuity of its operations and delivery of the essential functions under the worst-case scenario.

Currently, the region had already prepared several disaster and climate-change contingency plans and the crafting of the PSCP but health emergency/pandemics was not incorporated in the said documents.

Thus, to facilitate the completion of the said plans OCD XII committed to provide technical assistance to the 54 LGUs and interested RLAs in the region.

c. Localization of the National Action Plan (NAP) against COVID-19 (Phase II) On July 2, 2020, the National Task Force (NTF) on COVID19 released the Phase II of the NAP with the goal of saving lives and mitigating impacts as one towards economic and social recovery covering the months of July to September 2020. The general concept of the plan is to sustain the gains, address the resurgence, and recover

the economy while its operational concept is based on the end-to-end T3 (trace, test, and treat) management system. At the regional level, the Implementation Plan (ImPlan) was prepared to serve as a guide for the tactical operation of the task force in fighting against the pandemic for the said period.

d. Zoning Concept The NTF issued Memorandum Circular No. 2 series of 2020: Operational Guidelines on the Application of the Zoning Containment Strategy in the Localization of the NAP against COVID-19 Response. The policy directive was designed to identify priority areas for response, taking cognizance of the spike of cases. The zoning concept provides guidance to the LGUs in implementing localized or community-based lockdowns.

The Zoning Concept identified and categorized the areas in the country into four zones namely: critical zone (ECQ), containment zone (MECQ), buffer zone

(BZ) or the areas outside the buffer zone (MGCQ) depending on the number of cases within 1 to 15-day cycle. Areas in the critical zone will implement extremely restrictive ECQ while areas in the containment zone will implement MECQ. Likewise areas in the buffer zone will implement less restrictive GCQ while areas out of the buffer zone can apply MGCQ or nearing the new normal.

The critical zone can gradually transition to lower categories while areas in the lower zone can also be elevated to higher category with the emergence of new cases in the area over a period of time.

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e. Management of COVID-19 e.1

Implementation of Localized Lockdown

During the period, selected communities with confirmed COVID19 positive individuals had implemented community Table 4

lockdown and intensified the contact tracing, as follows:

List of Municipalities Implemented Granular Lockdown, July-August 2020

PROVINCES Cotabato

Sarangani South Cotabato

Sultan Kudarat

MUNICIPALITIES/CITIES

PUROKS/BARANGAYS

LOCKDOWN PERIOD

Kidapawan

Brgy. Lanao

June 29-July 12

Carmen

Sitio Kiyag, Brgy. Manarapan

July 27-August 5

Guiamal Compound, Brgy. Manarapan

July 27-August 5

Maasim

Sitio Proper, Brgy. Colon

June 29-July 12

Malungon

Datal Tampal (Purok 1, Sitio Flume)

July 5-9, 2020

Tampakan

Purok Pagkakaisa, Brgy. Lambayong

June 25-July 30

Esperanza

Purok Orchids, Brgy. Pamantingan

June 30-July 15

Isulan

Purok Mangga, Brgy. B’Lotilla

June 27-July 10

Lebak

Purok Lanzones II, Brgy. Salaman

July 25 to August 8

Source of data: RTF XII on COVID19

e.2 Management of Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs) and Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) A total of 24,481 (as of July 21, 2020) inbound ROFs and LSIs and 1,168 outbound LSIs from the region were repatriated resulting from the initiatives of concerned LGUs and agencies. As shown

in Table 4, the repatriation program or the Hatid Tulong Program/Initiative is among the best practices of the region during the pandemic.

20 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

Table 5 Number of Inbound and Outbound Repatriated ROFs and LSIs in Region XII

as of July 2020 PROVINCES/CITIES

INBOUND

OUTBOUND

ROFS

LSIS

LSIS

Cotabato

581

10,883

62

Sarangani

213

980

80

South Cotabato

701

4,600

118

Sultan Kudarat

295

2,242

173

Cotabato City

485

1,049

62

General Santos

717

1,755

673

2,992

21,509

1,168

Total

Source of data: OCD XII

The Province of Cotabato received the most number of inbound LSIs, while the City of General Santos recorded the highest number of inbound ROFs and outbound LSIs. The protocols approved by the Joint Region XII Task Force on COVID-19 (RTF XII on COVID-19) and Regional Inter Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (RIATF-EID) XII governed the repatriation process under the local government and national government initiatives. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) XII spearheaded the ROFs repatriation while the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) XII and Presidential Management Staff (PMS) manages the LSIs repatriation.

One-stop shops were established in all ports of entry in the region to assist the inbound ROFs and LSIs and ensure that these individuals complied with the health protocols indicated in the approved Implementation Plan for the Management of ROFs and LSIs. All documented inbound ROFs and LSIs undergo rapid testing upon arrival and 14-day quarantine period in government-managed facilities

before its reintegration in their respective communities.

Moreover, the Region has also established its prevention, detection, isolation, and testing capacity as it expects the influx of the inbound ROFs and LSIs. However, there were limited permanent facilities established to temporarily host the inbound ROFs and LSIs while being monitored and isolated.

Currently, the three (3) completed OCDfunded evacuation centers were utilized as temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMF). Moreover, the school buildings and tourism/accommodation facilities augment the lack of TTMF. As of July 15, 2020 several LGUs are still requesting to allow them to extend their utilization of these facilities as TTMF thus hampered the preparation of the education sector in the school classes opening and as well as the preparation of the tourism sector to restart its operations.

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e.3 Management of Deaths arising from the COVID-19 As of July 15, 2020, a total of 43 teams were organized and trained to manage the death due to COVID-19. Also, 428 available cadaver bags and only one (1) identified Table 6

funeral parlor with crematorium has the capability to handle the remains of the CoVID-19 confirmed positive individual.

Indicators on the Management of the Dead and Missing (MDM) due to CoVId-19, Region XII, as of July 2020

PROVINCES/CITIES

NUMBER OF MDM TEAMS ORGANIZED

NUMBER OF CADAVER BAGS AVAILABLE

NUMBER OF FUNERAL PARLORS WITH CREMATORIUM

Cotabato

18

141

1

Sarangani

7

165

0

South Cotabato

11

88

0

Sultan Kudarat

6

34

0

Cotabato City

0

0

0

General Santos

1

0

0

Total

43

428

1

Source of data: DILG XII

Challenges Despite the efforts of the RLAs and the LGUs, challenges remain under the DRRM sub-sector: • Outdated Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs) and Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plans (PDPFPs); • Low percentage of compliance of LGUs to DILG Memorandum Circular 2019172 on the updating of the CDPs and CLUPs; • Lack of approved disaster thematic plans, Public Sector Continuity Plans and Contingency Plans with mainstreamed health pandemic protocols; • Limited capability at the regional and local levels to formulate PSCPs or lack of trained personnel to handle the PSCPs/CPs preparation and implementation; and • Low level of readiness of people, facilities, and institutions to respond to the pandemic; • Limited capability of LGUs to manage the remains of CoVID-19 Confirmed positive; • Limited number of available funeral parlors with crematorium; and • The continued use of school facilities during pandemics to augment the lack of isolation facilities that hamper the preparation of the education sector in the upcoming school classes opening.

22 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

e. Peace, Security, Public Order and Safety

Assessment a. Continuing presence of terrorists groups and other lawless elements amidst the pandemic With the government’s preoccupation with the response mechanisms to contain the spread of the COVID19 and at the same time, in protecting the lives and welfare of the people, the terrorist groups and other lawless elements based in the region took advantage of the situation. The Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) continue to manipulate, and agitate the most vulnerable sectors of the population to advance their ill-motives through influence and recruitment. The diversion of focus of law enforcement and security personnel in implementing policies relative to COVID19 allowed these subversive groups to: • • •

Strengthened their armed ranks and sphere of influence, especially in the areas where they severely lost grounds due to the mass surrenders of former comrades; Pursued atrocities against the public (e.g. extortion and harassment activities); and Agitated the public through the spreading of fake news and black propaganda to undermine the government’s efforts in preventing and containing the spread of COVID19 and in protecting the population.

b. Highly vulnerable to various threats of terrorism The lack of permanent border control infrastructures along the various points of entry and exit of the region allowed lawless elements facile access into the region and likewise hampered effective implementation of border constrictions.

Moreover, the non-contiguous geographical layout of the region added obstacles to security forces in implementing target-hardening measures to maintain security and safety of the region. Major thoroughfares connecting the provinces (and even major growth areas within a province) need to traverse through Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) areas. Likewise, the transportation route joining the west and east parts of Maguindanao (BARMM) traverses through Region XII. In addition, some border areas of the region do not, if not at all, have established border checkpoints to ensure effective implementation of policies, especially in times of national emergencies.

Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 23

2. Economic a. Macro-economy

Assessment Based on the initial estimates of NEDA on COVID-19’s direct impact to the gross regional domestic product (GRDP) at current prices, the losses resulting from the ECQ (excluding losses from transport sector) is at PhP 8.27 billion or 1.53 percent of the GRDP. The estimation assumes the income losses from unsold produce based on NEDA’s assessment survey for agriculture and foregone revenue for industry and services sector from the average number of ECQ days in the region.

The Service sector was observed to be the hardest hit with an estimated foregone income of PhP 4.66 billion. This included the wholesale and retail, tourism-related establishments and hotel and accommodation businesses. The industry sector had an estimated foregone revenue of PhP 3.60 billion particularly the nonessential industries which were affected during the ECQ period. The agriculture sector posted an estimated loss of PhP 1.52 billion which was computed from the unsold products during the lockdown period.

Figure 6

Estimated Direct Impact of COVID-19 pandemic to the regional economy, by sector, Region XII, March 15-April 30

Several sectors of the economy were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tourism, services, trade, retail, real estate, and manufacturing sectors experienced difficulties especially during the ECQ period implemented in the region. Business establishments were forced to temporarily shut down their operations due to a series of lockdowns in the region.

24 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

NEDA conducted an online survey to understand the experiences and needs of micro, small, and medium-sized business owners under the ECQ brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020. The Business Sector survey was participated in by 69 enterprises, located in General Santos City (38%), Cotabato Province (30%), South Cotabato (23%) and Sultan Kudarat (9%). In terms of size, the majority of those surveyed were micro (57%), followed by small (20%), medium (13%), and large (10%) enterprises. Table 6 summarizes the situation of their business operations during the ECQ. Table 7 Summary of Survey on Operation of 69 Business Firms / MSMEs in Region XII,

April 2020 INDICATORS

REMARKS

Change in cost of raw materials

Half of the surveyed firms reported an increase in their cost of production during the ECQ. Almost one-third reported unchanged cost of production

Change in sales

Majority (78%) of the surveyed firms reported decrease in sales, ranging from 9-100% reduction in sales.

Change in working arrangements

Almost 46% temporarily stopped their operations while 43% remained open but with limited operations.

Majority (71%) of the surveyed firms reported that work from home scheme is not feasible for their workers.

Change in number of workers

Majority (80%) of the surveyed firms did not lay-off workers.

Change in wage payment to employees

Almost 43% of the surveyed firms did not temporarily pay their workers

Mechanism to manage cash flow

Assistance received (DOLE’s CAMP)

To stay afloat during the ECQ, most of the firms used their own fund/retained profit to maintain business (52%). Some borrowed from family and friends (25%), applied for loans/overdraft/line of credit from banks for working capital (14%), and obtained loans/overdraft/line of credit from banks for working capital (13%).

Majority (83%) of the surveyed firms did not avail of the DOLE’s CAMP to provide financial assistance to their employees who were unable to work during quarantine

Source of data: NEDA Survey

Majority (78%) of the business owners reported to have experienced or were expecting to experience bottlenecks in the supply chain. Among the reasons include reduction or cessation of operations of local suppliers or distributors, delayed logistics because of checkpoints or border shutdown, and increased prices of goods and raw materials.

About 30% of the surveyed firms encountered problems on repayment of loans while 25% encountered problems on staff wages and social security charges.

Almost 43% reported to have cash/funds covering operation costs expected to run out in 1-3 months after COVID-19 pandemic while 30% reported that they already ran out of cash or savings.

The difficulties encountered by the business establishments were also felt by the workers employed in these firms. The number of persons who actively participate Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 25

in the economy reduced by 164 thousand in April 2020 as compared to the same period of the previous year. Employment rate also decreased to 78.8 percent from 95.4 percent in April 2019 which accounts for a reduction of 465 thousand persons. The unemployment rate significantly increased from 4.6 percent in April 2019 to 21.2 percent in April 2020. About 301 thousand persons were added to the unemployment statistics in the region.

Table 8

Labor Force Statistics, April 2019 vs. April 2020

PERIOD

LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE (%)

EMPLOYMENT RATE (%)

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (%)

UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE (%)

April 2020

57.4

78.8

21.2

20.8

April 2019

64.6

95.4

4.6

19.9

Source of data: PSA XII

The prices of basic goods and necessities were properly managed as the Local Price Coordinating Councils (LPCCs) were immediately activated during the crisis. The strict implementation of the price freeze as well as the anti-hoarding policies were ensured. An increasing trend in inflation rates was observed from the months of March to May however it decreased to 3.1 in the month of June.

Figure 7 Inflation Rates in SOCCSKSARGEN Region, January to June 2019 and 2020

26 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

Challenges •

Disruption in economic activities resulting in slower economic growth in the region.

The implementation of ECQ resulted in closure of businesses, limited operations of establishments, decrease in sales of firms, and bottlenecks in the supply chain.

•

The Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) reported that the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) may contract by 2.0 to 3.4 percent in 2020.

Higher unemployment rate (21.2%) in all sectors of the economy which may result in decline in consumer spending.

Unemployment rate increased to 21.2 percent accounting to 393 thousand Filipinos in the labor force jobless in April •

2020. Lower income pay will entail lower spending patterns with the essential goods being prioritized by the consumers.

Lack of harmonized national database to support the provision of social programs.

The difficulty in the identification of eligible recipients of social packages was observed during ECQ which resulted in

delayed provision of relief assistance to the vulnerable sectors.

b. Agriculture and Fishery

Assessment The nationwide directive to place all areas under quarantine, with a forced requirement for people to stay at home, hindered the movement of people including activities pertaining to food production. Nonetheless, the government has extended so much efforts to continue the production of food and ensure their availability and sustainability.

Considering that food is a prime necessity for individual’s existence, the Department of Agriculture has issued Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 07 series of 2020 to ensure the unhampered movement of all food and production items through food lanes. It was complemented by the issuance of MC No. 09 series of 2020, a Supplemental Circular Based on the Memorandum Issued by the Executive Secretary on Enhanced Community Quarantine, Ensuring Unhampered Movement Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 27

of All Cargoes, Agriculture and Fishery Inputs, Food Products and Agribusiness Personnel Nationwide.

In compliance with the aforementioned directive, the Department of Agriculture XII has issued 20,005 Food Passes and 4,213 IATF-EID ID to aid agri-businessmen in transporting food products.

On matters concerning food production, the region has conducted an assessment or scenario building to guarantee that the region’s population of 4.5 million will always have available food on their table during the COVID-19 crisis and even a year after.

Based on its 3-month (April to June 2020) assessment, the region has a projected production of rice at 1,254,257 metric tons. However, considering the free trading to other regions, total projected supply was estimated at 804,171 metric tons as against the projected weekly demand of 9,847 metric tons, supply is expected to last for 81 weeks or about 20 months. This includes stocks at the NFA warehouses.

Rice supply and demand in the region vary across provinces. The Province of Sultan Kudarat has a projected supply that would last for 52 months and Cotabato Province for 25 months; but the provinces of South Cotabato and Sarangani have projected rice supply estimated to last for only 4 and 3 months, respectively. The Joint RTF on CoVID-19 and RIATF-EID XII passed a resolution on Food Complementation to cater to the needs of other areas in the region by the surplus provinces.

For other crops, corn supply is expected to last for 6 months, vegetables for only about 1.5 months, and root crops for only 1.36 weeks or less than a month.

For the fish and marine products, the demand and supply scenario based on 5-day assessment would only last for less than a week. Demand and supply scenario for chicken and pork based on a one-year assessment, supply will be available for 0.44 and 1.13 years, respectively.

Generally, the region would still have available supply until end of 2020, provided that production will remain unhampered. Therefore, support to food production is highly needed that ranges from provision of inputs (seeds/seedlings, breeding stocks, fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, irrigation services, production technology management training and financial subsidy) and support to marketing and processing.

As of June 2020, there are still remaining beneficiaries affected by the crisis that have not availed of support intended for them. This was based on the initial listing generated by the concerned agency. Of the total rice farmer-beneficiaries, about 30% still need to be provided with certified/ hybrid seeds. For the vegetable farmers about 63% still need the vegetable seeds and about 45% of the farmers are awaiting financial support from the government. For the PhP25,000.00 cash loan, only about 28% of the farmers were provided.

During the pandemic and even after the normalization of public transport, 28 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

farmers and fisherfolks needed support in the marketing of their produce. The opening of Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita on Wheels is an effective marketing strategy of bringing and selling fresh fruits, vegetables and fish products of the farmers and fisherfolks to the community at low and reasonable prices. The activity proved to be advantageous to the people in the community, thus other local government units (LGUs) replicated and cascaded the practice in their respective areas. The Province of Sultan Kudarat named it as “Tienda sa Probinsiya”, “Mobile Talipapa” for the Province of Sarangani, “Tiangge sa Probinsiya” for the Province of South Cotabato, “Market-Market sa Kapitolyo” for the Province of Cotabato, and the City of General Santos implemented both the Online Talipapa and LGU Agri Fishery on Wheels. While, this marketing strategy is a good practice, the farmers and fisherfolks still need the cold storage facility and processing equipment/machine for the value adding of their produce.

Food production and security were fully supported by concerned implementing agencies and local government units that worked in partnership to ensure that food is always available on the table of every Filipino. Non-government organizations and the private sector also initiated activities to complement the efforts of the government. Although, it was emphasized that the food supply chain (that includes activities related to food production, distribution, processing and marketing) should be unrestricted, however, there remained issues confronting the agriculture and fishery subsector.

Challenges •

Absence of cold storage facility and processing plant in the region.

These facilities are greatly needed to enhance product life and value adding of agriculture •

and fishery products.

Insufficient support in the agriculture and fishery supply chain.

1. Production inputs such as: seeds/ planting materials, breeding stocks, fertilizers, feeds, pesticides, fishing gears and equipment, irrigation services, production technology, and management training.

2. Processing. In addition to the establishment of a cold storage and processing station, a training component is still needed.

3. Marketing. Aside from the existing local marketing strategy, product consolidation and assured market outside the province/region and export market are needed.

Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 29

•

Lack of financial support in food production.

The Department of Agriculture has facilitated the provision of financial support to farmers and fisherfolks. But this needs to be continued to cover other targeted

c.

beneficiaries and to be enhanced to have a wider coverage to cater to others that were missed in the initial identification of beneficiaries.

Industry and Services

Assessment The industry and service sector is one of the region’s economic drivers and sources of employment due to the presence of resource-based micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Almost all had been affected by the synchronized lockdown implemented by LGUs to contain the spread of CoVID-19 pandemic.

With the relaxed restrictions and health protocols now in place, it is expected that economic activities in the region will be vibrant again.

The following table shows the number of business establishments and workers affected by the measures adopted by the government to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the region.

Table 9

Number of Business Establishments and Workers Affected by Measures Adopted by the Government to Combat the Spread of COVID-19 Pandemic in Region XII, as of July 14, 2020

EFFECTS/MEASURES ADOPTED BY BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS

NUMBER OF ESTABLISHMENTS

NUMBER OF AFFECTED WORKERS

Permanently Closed Establishment

7

234

Reduction of Workforce/ Retrenchment

33

628

Flexible Work Arrangement Implementation Temporary Closures TOTAL

513

12,589

1,629

19,177

2,182

32,628

Source of data: DOLE XII

The table below presents the total foregone revenue in the region due to the COVID-19 pandemic with the implementation of expanded community quarantine (ECQ). Foregone revenue was derived by estimating the output per day multiplied by the number of days of work interruption (45 days for Luzon regions and average number of days of ECQ in the provinces of Visayas and Mindanao regions). From the distribution of establishments and employment by province, employment data were used to disaggregate the losses in manufacturing, mining and quarrying, and construction and other subsectors by region (loss multiplied by regional share to total employment).

30 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

The table below presents the total foregone revenue in the region due to the COVID-19 pandemic with the implementation of expanded community quarantine (ECQ). Foregone revenue was derived by estimating the output per day multiplied by the number of days of work interruption (45 days for Luzon regions and average number of days of ECQ in the provinces of Visayas and Mindanao regions). From the distribution of establishments and employment by province, employment data were used to disaggregate the losses in manufacturing, mining and quarrying, and construction and other subsectors by region (loss multiplied by regional share to total employment).

Table 10 Estimated Foregone Revenue due to COVID-19/ECQ, SOCCSKSARGEN

Region (In PhP) SECTOR/SUB-SECTOR

FOREGONE REVENUE (PHP)

Manufacturing

3,125,385,722.00

Mining and Quarrying

114,831,691.56

Construction

361,843,017.00

Motor Vehicles, Personal Household Goods, Wholesale and Retail Trade

2,746,471,751.00

TOTAL

6,348,532,181.56

Source of data: We Recover as One Document prepared by Inter-Agency Task Force Technical Working Group for Anticipatory and Forward Planning

Challenges The sector on industry and service is one of the greatly affected sectors owing to the stoppage of operation of a number of establishments and the workers furloughed. The following are the challenges that need to be addressed:

•

Depletion of the working capital of MSMEs due to limited and cessation of economic activities

The sudden closure of business establishments producing and selling nonessential products (under the CoVID-19 related issuances) wreaked havoc to all affected MSMEs. Among the losses of MSMEs include the: a) cancellation of orders; b) low purchase orders and sales; •

and, c) spoiled/expired products (processed, perishable food products) due to long periods of quarantine/lockdown. Based on the conducted Focus Group Discussion for the business sector, these establishments do not foresee a restart of operation in the near future.

Limited knowledge of most MSMEs in the use of online platform to engage in E-commerce business transactions Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 31

Even before the onslaught of COVID-19 pandemic, business transactions in the country have started embracing the digital world in order to tap business opportunities in the evolving digital economy. However, not all are knowledgeable in engaging into digital/e-commerce business transactions.

•

Difficulty in reopening tourism-related and other business establishments due to lack of financial capital.

One of the greatest challenges not only for tourism-related businesses but for all MSMEs after this pandemic is how to restart their business due to lack of financial capital. As expected, not only tourism-related activities will slow down •

With the present situation wherein people are obliged to observe physical distancing at all times, it is but practical for all MSMEs to engage into e-commerce business transactions to keep up with the ever evolving marketplace.

but also other activities considered nonessential like businesses offering leisure and entertainment and the like. Economic activity in general is expected to decelerate because people will hesitate to go out if not for important things.

Increased demand for Information Technology services

It is expected that there will be an increased demand for IT services because many if not all business establishments will now engage in e-commerce transactions to abide

with the policies issued by the government particularly on observing social distancing at all times and other safety health measures.

The following are the characteristics of the sub-sector under the new normal: • Reduced buying capacity of consumers and procurement capacity of MSMEs due to limited income • Focused production of essential products and innovation in production • Higher demand for health products, health-boosting and sanitation goods, internet connection and electronics, particularly the following: • SSF beneficiaries and other MSMEs continue producing masks, PPE and other health boosting-protection products.

• Reduction in travel and tourism activities. Operations and sales generation of OTOPs, pasalubong centers and MSMEs will still be affected.

• Reduction in the demand for luxury goods.

• Increasing demand for on-line and door-to-door delivery marketing services.

• Changes in demand for investment.

• Higher investment demand for delivery van, health care service, motorcycle, digital connectivity, electronics equipment.

• Sustained promotion of manufacturing and investments in the region for the economy restart and recovery • Implementation of sanitation protocols in business establishments following LGU’s regulation • Awareness of the business sector to have a Business Continuity Plan 32 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

d.

Tourism Development

Assessment The tourism industry in the region was greatly affected by the CoVID-19 pandemic due to border closures, lockdown and travel restrictions. Hotels, restaurants, and transport operators have ceased operation adding to the number of closed establishments and pool of unemployed individuals. As the region was classified as among the low-risk areas for CoVID-19, plans to restart the regional economy include the reopening of local tourist destinations and facilities. Local tourism or intra-regional travel is expected to jumpstart the tourism industry, as restrictions have relaxed and health protocols are gradually put in place. Local travelers are expected to go to destinations closer to home, hence, domestic leisure travel is seen to lead the recovery of the tourism industry in the region. Tourist destinations identified are those that can easily adapt to the new normal and other safety measures. Strict monitoring was undertaken to implement the safety protocols such as the wearing of face masks, regular disinfection, and the practice of safe physical distancing.

Challenges •

Disruption of tourism supply change

All tourist sites both private- and government-operated were ordered closed during the implementation of community quarantine. Initially, there were 48 accommodation establishments, 25 travel and tours operators, 3 tourists transport service providers which communicated with DOT XII regarding the cessation of their operations. Tourism sector which belongs to Category IV is most heavily hit and the last to be allowed to operate, e.g. water parks, beaches, resorts, travel agencies, tour operators, reservation service and related activities, among others.

•

The said enterprises were forced to absorb the operating expenses from rent to taxes, staff wages, repayment of loans etc., hence, facing possible closure. The foregone revenue for the tourism industry in the region was estimated at PhP 1,918,435,21, during the implementation of the community quarantine. (Computed using estimated daily tourist arrivals from the 2018 annual tourist arrivals multiplied by 2017 daily tourist expenditure, multiplied by days of interrupted service, which is 60 days.)

Downgraded tourism opportunities for the region due to extended/prolonged quarantine period and travel restrictions

Some tourism-related enterprises (TREs) were allowed to operate such as hotels and

restaurants, subject to compliance with the new normal guidelines and issuance Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 33

of a corresponding Certificate to Operate during the quarantine period. As of July 14, 2020, only 128 accredited TREs were issued the said certificate. By location, 50% of these establishments are located in General •

Santos City, and by category, 77% belong to the category of mabuhay accommodation, i.e. tourist inn, pension house, transient, bed and breakfast.

Difficulty in regaining confidence of both domestic and foreign tourists to travel again (after quarantine is lifted) due to concerns on personal safety

The recent pandemic experience will cause behavior change particularly on priority on spending. Leisure may not be among the top priority; hence employment in accommodation, tourism sites, travel and tours and even the food sector may be at risk. Further, DOT XII recorded

only 11 accommodation establishments, applying for authority to operate during the community quarantine, and 50 new tourism establishments applying for basic registration. All applications are still subject for inspection and evaluation by the DOT XII.

3. Social a.

Health and Nutrition

Assessment The region has a total of 285 confirmed cases as of July 31, 2020. Of the said total 125 has recovered or recovery rate of 44% and with fatality rate of 1.4% or four deaths registered. Among suspects, 126 were admitted and 515 were outpatient and accounted 5 probables. The region recorded a total of 68 COVID-19 related deaths. Most of the new cases that co ntributed to the bulk increase were local stranded individuals and returning overseas Filipino workers. The spike started in the month of June where borders were opened to commence economic activity of the people towards the new normal.

From March to May 2020 most of the community throughout the region has imposed the enhanced community quarantine that limits the movement of people and no testing center except towards the end of May where the first testing center in the region was established. During the said period residents were stranded in COVID-19 infection areas or the epicenters. For the first three months confirmed cases, is very low, it climbed to 37 by June, and an all time high in July accounting 224 confirmed cases.

34 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

Table 11 SOCCSKSARGEN Region CoVID-19 Tracker, as of July 31, 2020 CITY/ PROVINCE

CONFIRMED COVID-19

SUSPECT

PROBABLES

TOTAL

DEATH

RECOVERIES

ADMITTED

DISCHARGED

OPD

DEATH

ADMITTED

DISCHARGED

OPD

DEATH

Cotabato City

28

0

19

1

18

59

1

0

0

0

0

General Santos City

32

0

5

8

41

30

13

0

0

0

0

Cotabato Province

41

2

18

23

41

189

5

0

0

0

1

Sarangani

65

0

20

5

54

30

4

0

0

0

0

South Cotabato

68

0

35

65

128

102

27

0

0

0

4

Sultan Kudarat

51

2

28

24

36

105

7

0

0

0

0

Region

285

4

125

126

318

515

57

0

0

0

5

Source of data: DOH XII

The region has an overall total of 285 cases from March to July 2020. By area, the bulk of the cases were recorded in South Cotabato (68) and Sarangani (65) Province, closely followed by Sultan Kudarat (51) and the lowest is Cotabato City (28).

Table 12 CoVID-19 Confirmed Case by Area, Region XII, as of July 31, 2020 AREA

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

TOTAL

Cotabato City

2

4

4

5

13

28

General Santos City

0

1

0

2

29

32

Cotabato Province

0

3

2

4

32

41

Sarangani

0

0

1

5

59

65

South Cotabato

0

3

1

13

51

68

Sultan Kudarat

1

2

0

8

40

51

3

13

8

37

224

285

Total :

Source of data: DOH-CHD SOCCSKSARGEN

Locally Stranded Individuals and Returning Overseas Filipino Workers (LSI/ROFW) President Rodrigo Duterte launched the Hatid Tulong Program to help bring home

individuals who are stranded in Metro Manila due to restrictions and effects of the Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 35

implementation of quarantine to address the pandemic. Since June 2020, LSIs/ROFs started to arrive, that spiked the number of confirmed cases in the region.

Per DOH record, a total of 1,238 returning

residents were tested, as of July 21, 2020.

The bulk are LSIs comprising 80% and the remaining 20 percent are ROFs, of which 146 tested positive.

Table 13 Number of LSI/ROFW Tested with RT PCR, Region 12, as of July 21, 2020 AREA

LOCALLY STRANDED INDIVIDUAL

RETURNING OFW

TOTAL TESTED

POSITIVE

TOTAL TESTED

POSITIVE

Cotabato City

25

9

1

1

General Santos City

151

14

8

1

Cotabato Province

275

15

52

0

Sarangani

233

38

123

6

South Cotabato

119

27

37

8

Sultan Kudarat

193

16

21

11

Region XII

996

119

242

27

Source of data: DOH-CHD SOCCSKSARGEN

Testing Centers Region XII has established three (3) COVID-19 gene expert Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing centers.

The three accredited COVID-19 testing centers are strategically located in the region, as follows: Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (CRMC) located in Cotabato City, Dr. Arturo P. Pingoy Medical Center (DAPPMC) in Koronadal City and St. Elizabeth Hospital in General Santos City where, one is a public hospital and two are private hospitals.

Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Hospital in General Santos City has pending application and one will also be established in Cotabato Province.

A total of 2,902 individuals already tested with PCR test and the region has the capacity to test between 211 to 281 test per day.

36 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

Table 14

Number of Testing Centers Established and Testing Capacity, Region XII, July 20 2020 TESTING CENTERS ESTABLISHED

NO. OF PCR TEST KITS ON HAND

INDIVIDUALS PCR TESTED

TESTED ON RDT

357

4

819

208

Sultan Kudarat

390

44

Sarangani

364

53

PROVINCE/CITY

TEST/DAY CAPACITY

Cotabato Province Dr. Arturo P. Pingoy Medical Center

South Cotabato

General Santos City Cotabato City TOTAL

563

45

St. Elizabeth Hospital

397

40

191

45

Cotabato Regional and Medical Center

508

196 Max 126 Min

781

178

3

1,468

281 Max 211 Min

2,902

532

Source of data: DOH-CHD SOCCSKSARGEN

Referral Hospitals and Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities There are 22 referral hospitals located in the provinces/cities in the region. Person infected or with severe symptoms of Table 15

COVID-19 are referred to the said facilities for treatment or quarantine.

Region XII Referral Facilities, Per Province/City

PROVINCE/CITY

South Cotabato

FACILITY/HOSPITAL Dr. Arturo P. Pingoy Medical Center, Koronadal City

Allah Valley Medical Specialist Center, Inc, Koronadal City

South Cotabato Provincial Hospital, Koronadal City

Howard Hubbard Memorial Hospital, Polomolok

SOCCSKSARGEN General Hospital, Surallah

General Santos City

Cotabato City Sultan Kudarat

Cotabato Province

Sarangani

Mindanao Medical Center, Inc.

Gensan Medical Center

General Santos Doctor's Hospital, Inc

Soccsargen County Hospital

St. Elizabeth Hospital Hospital, Inc

Doctor Jorge P. Royeca Hospital

Notre Dame Hospital and School of Midwifery, Inc.

Cotabato Regional and Medical Center

St. Louis Hospital, Tacurong City

Dr. Domingo Tamondong Memorial Hospital and College Foundation, Isulan

Lambayong District Hospital Anecito P. Pesante Sr. Memorial Hospital Co., Midsayap

Mindanao Doctor's Hospital and Cancer Center, Inc., Kabacan

Mlang Specialist Medical Center, Inc

USM Hospital, Kabacan

Drug Rehabilitation Center in Alabel, Sarangani

Provincial Hospital in Alabel, Sarangani

Source of data: DOH-CHD SOCCSKSARGEN Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 37

Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities (TTMF) are also established in the region.

The TTMF served as isolation or quarantine Table 16

facility for the returning residents. There are a total of 85 TTMF in the region and has total bed capacity of 1,231. The TTMF recorded 211 occupants or an occupancy rate of 17% as of July 14, 2020.

Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities, by Area, Region XII, July 14, 2020 TEMPORARY TREATMENT AND MONITORING FACILITIES (TTMF)

PROVINCE/CITY

NO. OF TTMF

BED CAPACITY

OCCUPANTS

Cotabato (North) Province

18

188

10

South Cotabato

16

358

110

Sultan Kudarat

23

444

12

Sarangani

17

138

79

General Santos City

3

53

0

Cotabato City

8

50

0

85

1,231

211

TOTAL

Source of data: DOH-CHD SOCCSKSARGEN

Contact Tracing A total of 349 contact tracing team were organized 349 and trained 1,869 members Table 17

by DOH XII.

Contact Tracing Organized/Trained, by Area, Region XII, July 2020 CONTACT TRACING

PROVINCE/CITY

NO. OF TEAMS ORGANIZED

NO. OF MEMBERS

NO. OF MEMBER’S TRAINED

Cotabato (North) Province

161

1,312

635

South Cotabato

16

984

535

Sultan Kudarat

119

1,259

472

Sarangani

49

415

165

General Santos City

1

40

40

Cotabato City

3

22

22

349

4,032

1,869

TOTAL

Source of data: DOH-CHD SOCCSKSARGEN 38 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

The members of the Regional Development Council XII are oriented on STAYSAFEPH system. RDC XII passed Resolution No. 01, Series of 2020, enjoining all LGUs up to the Barangay level, and all regional line agencies and other government instrumentalities in Region XII to register and use the STAYSAFEPH application system for the management of corona virus cases in the Region. Said resolution was supported by the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force. LGU Koronadal City issued EO 44 providing that

staysafe as the official digital contact tracing system in the city.

The Provincial Government of South Cotabato created the South Cotabato COVID-19 Contact Tracing System (SCCCTS) where constituents are encouraged to register to the system by both individual and establishment. The SC CTS card is a digital contact tracing system widely used in South Cotabato Province.

Selected Health Indicator Mortality and Morbidity Maternal and Infant mortality rate in the region is on-track owing to the implementation of RA11148 or Magnanay Act. The top ten leading causes of death in the region are: pneumonia, cancer of all forms, hypertension, heart diseases, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, glomerural and renal disease, accidents/violence all forms, tuberculosis and acute myocardial infarction.

Malaria morbidity placed at 0.33% in 2019 with no deaths recorded. Dengue fatality

rate in 2019 is placed at 0.41%, LGUs adopted the 4S strategy up to the barangay level, the strategy aims to search and destroy mosquito habitat in the community.

The disease poliomyelitis re-emerged in the region affecting five children whose age ranged from 2 to 4 years old. The Philippines was certified a polio-free country since May 1993 of the poliomyelitis.

It is a communicable disease that can cause acute flaccid paralysis.

Immunization Program Immunization program in the region is fell below target for both mother and child. Of the 75% target for fully immunized children, the region accomplished around 60 percent only. While, target for fully immunized mother is placed at 45 %, the Region XII accomplished around 40 percent only.

The low immunization coverage was due to fear caused by dengvaxia vaccine. The dengvaxia is a vaccine for dengue, however, the vaccine exhibited adverse effect to some children.

On the other hand, with the re-emergence of the polio disease, the Sabayang Patak Kontra Polio or the polio immunization program is being conducted to improve the immunity of children aged 0-59 months old who are vulnerable to the disease. During the 1st and 2nd round of the SPKP, the region accomplished around 97 percent and during the last round on July 20 to August 2, 2020, and as of July 27, 2020 the accomplishment is placed at around 87 percent.

Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 39

Hospital bed and Manpower Facility The region’s hospital bed to population ratio fell below the standard ratio of 1:800 in 2018.

In 2019, there are LGUs with inadequate hospital bed, such as; Sarangani (1:5,638), South Cotabato (1:900) and Sultan Kudarat (1:893).

Likewise, the region has not attained the standard health manpower ratio, for physicians, nurses, midwives, sanitary inspectors and dentists. Physician ratio is 1:40,497 compared to the standard of 1:20,000.

Nutrition Status for Under 5 children The trends on the prevalence of malnutrition among 0-59 months old children has improved over time, this is based on the result of the Operation Timbang (OPT) conducted at the local level and being consolidated by the National Nutrition Council XII. Based on the Operation Timbang result, malnutrition in the region is low except stunting prevalence at 8.5 percent. This is higher than the <5% acceptable level set by the World Health Organization. Stunting prevalence in the region is of public health significance that needs nutrition intervention. Kiamba has the highest stunting prevalence registering 21.43 percent.

Stunted children means children who are

too short for their age. Accordingly, stunting is not genetic, this is the result of poor nutrition in early life of the child or during the first 1,000 days of life. Stunting has irreversible effect to a child, among them are weak immune system, low cognitive ability, high risk of obesity and lower than average life expectancy.

Two important laws passed to address malnutrition, the Magnanay Act or RA 11148 an act scaling up the national and local health and nutrition programs through a strengthened integrated strategy for maternal, neonatal, child health and nutrition in the first one thousand (1,000) days of life, was passed into law and RA 11120 or an act providing 105 days maternity leave for mother instead of the 60 days leave. The extended maternity leave

Water and Sanitation The proportion of household with access to sanitary toilet and safe water fell below target. Access to sanitary toilet recorded a decline of about 5 percent while access to

safe water a decline of about 7 percent. The low accomplishment is a challenge, since a poor environment can lead to poor health.

40 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

Table 18

Selected Health Indicators, Region XII, 2018-2019 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

INDICATORS

TARGET

2018

2019

2022

Maternal Mortality Rate decreased (per 100,000 livebirths)

60.75

58.06

50

Infant Mortality Rate decreased (per 1,000 livebirths)

6.37

3.58

3.3

Under-five Mortality Rate decreased (per 1,000 livebirths

9.24

7.03

6.3

Malaria Morbidity rate decrease (per 100,000 pop.)

0.96

0.33

0.25

Malaria Mortality Rate decrease (per 100,000 pop.)

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.41

.03

Dengue Case fatality rate per 100,000 population decreased Fully Immunized Children increased (%)

67.04

63.05

85

Fully immunized mother increased – TT2+ (%)

57.08

40.31

55

Hospital bed to population ratio attained

1: 874

1:777

1:800

Standard health to manpower ratio attained Physician

1: 40,736

1:40,497

1:20,000

Nurse

1: 17,672

1:18,015

1:10,000

Midwife

1: 5,934

1:6,179

1:5,000

Sanitary Inspector

1: 56,551

1:56,978

1:40,000

Dentist

1: 96,137

1:106,525

1:80,000

4.45

4

<5

Prevalence of underweight among under 5 children decrease (%) * Prevalence of stunting among under 5 children decrease (%) **

40.00 (NNS 2015)

Prevalence of stunting among under 5 children (%)decrease *

9.58

<5 8.5

<5

Prevalence of wasting among under 5 children (%) decrease *

6.9 (NNS 2015)

Prevalence of wasting among under 5 children (%) *

3.41

2.68

<5

Prevalence of overweight among under 5 children decrease (%) *

2.54

2.5

<5

Proportion of Household with access to sanitary toilet increased (%)

83.13

77.58

100

Proportion of Household with access to safe water increased (%)

93.24

86.42

100

<5

Source of data: DOH-CHD SOCCSKSARGEN

Fertility Rate Total fertility rate (TFR) is high and exhibited a slight increased by 0.2 percent from the previous survey. Contraceptive

prevalence rate is increasing but still below the desired target of 65 percent.

Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 41

Table 19

Total Fertility Rate & Contraceptive Prevalence Rate, Region XII, 2013 & 2017 INDICATOR

2013

2017

Total Fertility Rate

3.2

3.4

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate, Any method

57.5

58.9

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate, Any modern method

44.2

50.8

Source of data: PSA-2017 NDHS

adolescent who got pregnant while there is a change of indicator in 2019 is a record of adolescent who give livebirths. The bulk of teens getting pregnant and give birth are girls from 15-19 year old.

Teen pregnancy in the region registered a double digit incidence.

It shows an increasing trend from 2017 to 2018. In 2019, teen who give birth is placed at 10 percent. The 2017-2018 data recorded Table 20

Teenage Pregnancy Rate, by Area, Region XII, 2017-2019

AREA

2017

ELIGIBLE POP.

REGION XII

10-14

15-19

TOTAL

1,562

22,197

23,759

RATE %

2018

RATE %

10-14

15-19

TOTAL

18

776

24,194

24,970

19

Cotabato Province

39,766

120

4,976

5,096

4

154

5,037

5,191

4

Sarangani

15,422

101

2,972

3,073

2

113

2,913

3,026

2

South Cotabato

26,130

106

3,741

3,847

3

93

3,526

3,619

3

Sultan Kudarat

22,965

41

1,834

1,875

1

92

2,664

2,756

2

Cotabato City

8,531

5

918

923

1

26

1,128

1,154

1

General Santos City

16,971

1,189

7,756

8,945

7

298

8,926

9,224

7

TOTAL

129,785

Source of data: DOH XII (FHSIS 2018)

Table 21 Rate of Adolescent Birth Rate, by Area, Region XII, 2017-2019 ELIG. POP.

PREGNANT WOMEN WHO DELIVERED AGES 10-14 YRS.

PREGNANT WOMEN WHO DELIVERED AGES 15-19 YRS.

RATE OF ADOLESCENT BIRTHRATE (%)

North Cotabato

33634

28

2,611

8%

Sarangani

14510

36

2,100

15%

South Cotabato

20188

46

2,333

12%

Sultan Kudarat

20651

94

1,946

10%

Cotabato City

8770

4

412

5%

Gen. Santos City

13111

0

1,307

10%

110,864

208

10,709

10%

AREA

Region XII

Source of data: DOH XII (FHSIS 2018) 42 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

Challenges Health •

Influx of Locally Stranded Individuals/Returning OFWs (LSIs/ROFs) who are COVID-19 infected.

The Hatid Tulong a program of bringing home individuals who are stranded in Metro Manila and other areas due to restrictions imposed under the enhanced community quarantine brought by the COVID-19 •

Limited capability on disease surveillance and contact tracing.

The emergence of COVID-19 pandemic has caught all of us and the front liners off-guard. Health personnel are not wellequipped or has limited capability to manage this type of infectious disease.

Dealing massive population to contact •

readily available for consultation except by appointment and cater to limited patients only.

Inadequate medical professionals at LGU level.

Standard health manpower to population ratio is not attained. Health personnel providing essential services at the Rural Health Units (RHUs) up to the barangay is inadequate.

This is coupled with various demand relative to COVID-19 •

trace is quite new. Frontliners and health personnel has no intensive knowledge or inadequate capability to conduct contact tracing of individuals having close contact with infected persons.

Limited access to other essential health care services.

Access to essential services become limited due lockdowns and community quarantine that limits the movement of people.

During the pandemic, physicians are not •

pandemic.

The drastic increased of COVID-19 positive cases in the region are mostly from among the batches of LSIs/ ROFs that has newly arrived and tested positive of the virus.

pandemic. The number of physicians, nurses, midwives, sanitary inspectors and dentists serving the region are insufficient resulting to overworked health workers and underserved population.

Inadequate hospital bed capacity.

The hospital bed to population ratio is inadequate. The region’s ratio of 1:777 is within the standard of 1:800. However, Sarangani (1:5,638), South Cotabato (1:900)

and Sultan Kudarat (1:893) has not attained the standard ratio. It can be noted that the said provinces recorded high COVID-19 cases.

Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 43

•

Insufficient personal protective equipment and other logistics for health personnel and barangay volunteer.

. PPEs are limited and non-available during the pandemic. PPEs and other medical logistics is needed by both the front liners and the general public. On ensuring the •

Need improvement on the health care system at all levels of Governance.

. It has been the policy of the State to protect and promote the right to health of all Filipino, the implementation of Universal Health Care Law provides access of all Filipino to various health services.

Financial risk is needed to help the poor and underprivileged in availing health services.

In view of this policy, UHC implementation •

baby’s deprivation of colostrum which is highly concentrated milk good for improves the immune system.

No permanent/Plantilla position for Local Nutrition Action Officers (NAOs), mostly designated only.

Absence of permanent nutrition action officers may perpetuate prevalence of malnutrition in the region. LGUs mostly •

for mothers or a short of 5 percent. It means mother and child is not fully protected to battle against all forms of diseases.

The need to ensure healthful and nutritious family food packs, especially those nutritionally at risk population; and, violation of milk code.

Malnourished children has hampered cognitive development, thus, affect the child’s achievement in school. Violations of milk code is likewise noted resulting to •

requires proficiency on health governance towards improving the health system that supports the collective vision of Filipino or AmBisyon Natin of having a long and healthy life. To date, there are two provinces in the region identified as pilot area for UHC implementation with established Health Care Provider Network (HCPN).

Low immunization coverage.

Fully immunized children and mother fell below the target. Around 60 percent children are immunized or a 15 percent deficient; while, around 40 percent coverage •

adherence to health protocol and the rising cases, the demand for health logistics increased resulting to shortage of supply.

have designated NAO with inadequate training or capacity to handle nutrition programs/activities.

Low access to safe water and sanitary toilet facility.

The proportion of household with access to sanitary toilet and safe water is low or fell

below target accomplishment.

44 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

•

High fertility.

Total fertility rate in the region is high •

compared to the target of 2.1 percent.

High teen pregnancy.

Teen pregnancy and teen birth have a double digit incidence. Based on the 2017

NDHS, the region is ranked third highest on teen pregnancy placed at 14.5 percent.

b. Basic Education

Assessment According to the University of the Philippines COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team Policy Note No. 5 released on May 5, 2020, 56% of interactions among various age groups take place among the 0-20 years of age, the age-bracket of most learners in basic education. Although, according to a review of 45 papers on COVID-19 from January 1 - March 18, 2020, children only accounted for 1-5% of the overall number of COVID-19 cases, the role that children play in the transmission of the virus is still uncertain (Ludvigsson, 2020). The publication of the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Center for Health Security, “Public Health Principles for a Phased Reopening during COVID-19: Guidance for Governors” also states that there is still not enough data to conclude that children are agents of the virus (Rivers, et al., 2020). However, the same paper also states that for other viral illnesses, children are identified as drivers of transmission, and in the case of influenza, prompt and prolonged school closures have been observed to help reduce community transmission.

Having considered the different studies both in the country and abroad, classes were suspended, first in the National Capital Region, and then in the entire country, following the implementation of various quarantine measures. On July 21, 2020, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte stressed that limited face-to-face classes will only be allowed in January 2021, in areas under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ), or those in the transition phase between GCQ and the New Normal. These classes are subject to conditions set by DOH, DepEd and the IATF. However, despite the circumstances, classes must continue. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), school closures would have high social and economic effects (2020), including the deprivation of opportunities for children to grow and develop. There will also be an increase in dropout rates, as children would work to help their families financially and so interest in returning to school would decrease. In a study of Ichino and Winter-Ebmer (2004) on the effects of World War II on the economy, the closure of schools due to war created a gap of years without professionals, which Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 45

translated into gross domestic product loss. Moreover, on August 11, 2020, DepEd Secretary Leonor M. Briones said delaying classes further would risk learners of the country from being left behind by counterparts in Southeast Asia, since only the country and Cambodia have not resumed classes yet.

Therefore, since incontestably, the School Year 2020-2021 must commence, DepEd has to start classes while also ensuring that the learners and their parents/ guardians are safe from the virus. With this, enrollment commenced on June 1 July 15, 2020.

Enrollment In the previous year’s enrollment period, students and parents/guardians commonly gather in the 2,420 public schools (1,849 elementary and 571 secondary schools), and 663 private schools in the region.

However, this common situation is a perfect place for the spread of the virus. Hence, to curtail its spread, DepEd conducted remote enrollment where teachers facilitate the Figure 8

process by contacting their students via online social media platforms or through text messages or phone calls, asking, among others, for their intention to enroll and the alternative learning modality they prefer.

Below is the data on the number of enrollees for SY 2019-2020 compared with that of SY 2020-2021.

Comparative enrollment of SYs 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 as of September 23, 2020

Source of data: DepEd XII

Based on the figure, as of September 23, 2020, a total of 1,218,424 students enrolled for the SY 2020-2021 all over SOCCSKSARGEN.

This is 92% out of the region’s 1,322,297 enrollees from the previous school year, despite the pandemic. The total number

46 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

of enrollees for this school year may be attributed to either the efficiency and efficacy of the enrollment method used, the eagerness of the learners to go back to

school, the determination of the parents/ guardians to enroll their children in any of the prescribed modalities, or all of the mentioned possible reasons.

Learning modality In terms of learning modalities, there are four that schools can adopt, namely (1) face-to-face, (2) distance learning, (3) blended learning, which is a combination of face-to-face and any of the distance learning modalities, and (4) homeschooling. The first and the third are only allowed, with adherence to health and safety protocols, in very low risk areas or those that are not under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) nor General Community Quarantine (GCQ). As for homeschooling, the said

modality still does not have policies to govern it. Hence, for areas under ECQ and GCQ, the distance learning modality is only the option.

Under distance learning, there are three types, namely (1) modular distance learning, (2) online distance learning, and (3) TV/radio-based instruction. During enrollment, learners/parents/guardians were asked regarding their preferred distance learning modality and the figure below shows the preference of the learners.

Figure 9 Preferred Learning Modalities of Learners for SY 2020 - 2021 from the

Provincial Divisions as of September 23, 2020

Source of data: DepEd XII

The figure shows that majority of the learners across kinder, elementary, junior high school, and senior high school, or their parents/guardians, prefer modular learning, while only 89,878 or 7% of the total number

of enrollees who responded regarding their preferences chose online distance learning. In modular learning, learners will be provided with Self Learning Modules (SLM). Every Monday, Wednesday, and Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 47

Friday (three times a week), teachers will go to a designated sitio/purok/barangay with a set of portable sound system and materials to deliver lessons to learners and guide them on how to use the SLM. For the remaining two days of the week (Tuesdays and Thursdays), learners will use and accomplish the SLMs with the guidance of parent-teachers/family members or any person in the community who can provide assistance.

The preference of the learners or their parents/guardians of modular learning over online learning may be related to the lack of facilitative tools for the conduct of the latter, such as a desktop/laptop computer, a smart phone, and a fast and reliable internet connection. The experience of the parents/guardians to guide their children in attending online classes may also be a factor.

Facilitative Tools for the Distance Learning Modalities On internet connectivity, the number of barangays that do not have access to such is uncertain. However, based on the available

data below, the difficulty of enrolling in online learning classes is evident.

Table 22 Number of Schools Without Internet Connectivity as of July 21, 2020 PROVINCE/CITY

NO. OF SCHOOLS WITHOUT INTERNET CONNECTIVITY

Tacurong City

16

General Santos City

10

Kidapawan City

20

Koronadal City

11

Cotabato City

15

Sultan Kudarat

135

South Cotabato

223

Cotabato

278

Sarangani

146

TOTAL

854

Source of data: DepEd XII

A total of 854 out of 3,080 schools, or 28% of all the schools in the region still do not have access to the internet. These schools, which are themselves primary service institutions that should have internet connectivity, would already tell the difficulty of learners that live geographically farther than where these learning centers are in gaining access to the internet.

In addition, as mentioned earlier, there is also TV and radio-based instruction. In terms of the availability of radio stations and local television networks, almost all divisions have a minimum of one of the platforms, except for Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani that do not have local TV networks.

48 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

Table 23

Number of Radio Stations and Local TV Networks per Province/City as of July 16, 2020 DIVISION

RADIO STATION

TELEVISION NETWORK

General Santos City

24

15

South Cotabato

4

4

Koronadal City

9

4

Cotabato City

18

9

Kidapawan City

17

4

Tacurong

4

Sultan Kudarat

5

Sarangani

2

Cotabato

8 and 1 Schools Division Office Owned station

4

Source of data: DepEd XII

Despite being more accessible compared to the internet, radio/TV-based instruction is the modality with the least number of

enrollees across all the grade levels, except for elementary.

Private Schools In the region, there are 663 private schools, or 22% out of the total number of schools.

As of September 23, 2020, there was a

notable 40% decrease in the number of enrollees in the said schools as shown in the figure below.

Figure 10 Comparative enrollment in private schools for SYs 2019-2020 and 2020-2021

as of September 23, 2020

Source of data: DepEd XII Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 49

The decrease can be attributed to the effect of the pandemic to the financial capability of the parents to pay for the tuition fee of their learners. This translates to a decrease in income of these schools that in turn entails difficulty in paying for operational costs, such as the salary of their teachers.

Although there is no data on the number of teachers that availed of DOLE assistance of schools that applied for aid to pay for their teacher’s salary, private schools teachers have already posted their wage issues on the social media accounts of DepEd Central Office and DepEd XII.

Challenges Learners •

Lack of access to online learning materials, especially for those in geographically isolated, disadvantaged, and conflict-affected areas.

DepEd has learning materials which can be accessed online, particularly the DepEd Commons and DepEd Learning Portal.

These aim to improve learning experience, supplementing the usual classroom setup.

•

Reduced access to learning resources due to the prohibition of learners to enter school premises for areas where face-to-face learning is not allowed.

For those who do not have internet connection, the school, its library and computer rooms (for schools with internet connection), provides opportunity for •

learners to enhance their knowledge.

However, learners are prohibited from entering the school premises for high-risk areas.

Inability of learners’ with disability to access face-to-face learning with Special Education teachers.

Teaching learners with disabilities requires special attention, which mostly needs personal interaction. However, this •

However, learners in geographically isolated, disadvantaged, and conflict-affected areas could not access these resources due to the lack of internet connectivity.

could not be allowed due to the danger of spreading the virus.

Increased vulnerability of kindergarten learners and parents/guardians during the conduct of face-to-face learning.

As discussed in UP’s study, like other children, kindergarten learners would highly interact with one another and with family members with co-morbidities, or with senior citizens that have weaker immune system. Thus, face-to-face learning

for these learners would put them and the people around them at risk. However, distance learning for these children would also entail difficulty in ensuring that they learn the key learning competencies for their level.

50 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

Teachers •

Inability to conduct face-to-face learning.

Teachers could not provide the usual guidance to students in their learning. More so, there are output-based activities that •

could not be monitored or implemented via the alternative learning modalities.

Increased financial vulnerability of teachers.

Private schools mostly rely on fees collected from enrollees. Delay in the start of classes and decrease in number of enrollees entails

interruption/decrease in the collection of fees for the salary of teachers.

Schools •

Limited resources to locally develop and reproduce learning materials.

There are 820,913 learners that prefer modular learning. This translates to the number of persons to be provided with •

SLMs, which implies the need for budget for the reproduction or the purchase of materials and equipment to facilitate such.

Increased vulnerability of private schools to economic shocks.

The pandemic has already affected the collection of fees of schools. This makes them more vulnerable to economic shocks

that would come, making it more difficult for them to operate.

Cross-Cutting Challenges •

Lack of access to fast and reliable internet connection.

As stated in the assessment section, 854 schools in Region XII do not have internet connectivity. This still excludes schools with unstable internet connection. This lack of fast and reliable internet access in the said schools would translate to difficulty •

of teachers in encoding reports such as enrollment data, and in delivering online classes to students. For students, this entails lack of access to online learning materials.

Lack of access to ICT equipment such as smart phones or desktop/laptop computers.

The said equipment are necessary in online distant learning and doing supplemental research. The absence of such would limit the learning experience of learners, and the

teaching delivery of teachers. According to DepEd Undersecretary for Administration Alain Pascua, an estimated 11% of teachers do not have the said gadgets.

Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 51

•

Increased level of stress and anxiety.

According to UNESCO (2020), prolonged closure of school disrupts mental health and psychosocial support provided by schools.

•

Increased risk of learners, teachers, and schools from cyber-attacks.

Due to the increased use of online learning platforms, cyber security becomes an issue.

c.

Moreover, the loss of peer interaction and the interrupted routines brings about stress and anxiety.

Phishing, hacking, and identity theft are only some of risks that arise

Social Protection

Assessment Social Protection sub-sector was able to hurdle the different Community Quarantines placed in order to protect the people from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Programs and projects of the government during the pandemic were effectively delivered to beneficiaries. The delivery was orchestrated by the national government agencies in coordination with the regional line offices down to the local government units.

As of August 6, 2020, the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) 1st Tranche was disbursed to its beneficiaries as follows: a) about 99.31% of 668,287 non Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries received the amount of Php3,329,389,100.00; b) 98.80% of 261,668 4Ps members benefitted on the assistance amounting to Php943,634,500.00. Included in SAP are cash subsidies to qualified driver-beneficiaries which were released through actual payout for those in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) and through digital Pay-out using Financial Service Providers (FSPs) wherein 50.32% Waitlisted received the assistance mentioned while 1.23% qualified drivers of Transportation Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) received their benefits.

DSWD assisted 84.56% of the 264,358 Social Pension beneficiaries amounting to Php670,626.00.

For its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation, the amount of Php105,347,016.40 was utilized. 1,783 of which are Returning Overseas Filipinos/Locally Stranded Individuals (ROF/LSI).

The amount of Php34,437,763 for Regular Fund for Food/Non-food Items were distributed among 61,216 beneficiaries in the region.

52 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

Challenges With the current problem caused by COVID-19 pandemic and the increased of vulnerable families and individuals, the following challenges were identified, as follows: • Difficulty in identification of qualified and bonafide beneficiaries, as well as actual implementation of social protection programs in GIDA areas during pay-out activities, and; • Sustaining the well-being of a huge number of poor, marginalized, and vulnerable individuals, families, communities amidst the crisis.

d. Labor and Employment

Assessment The region’s labor and employment sector continues to show resilience as it incrementally hurdles the adverse effects brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Swift policy interventions have been able to mitigate the negative effects of the economic downturn being experienced particularly that of the labor and employment sector. Generally, as reported by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) XII, a total of 50,409 affected workers in Region XII and 4,321 workers in BARMM were provided with emergency employment and post COVID-19 interventions to sustain their livelihood. About Php 257,113,205.38 has been spent to support the said interventions.

Table 24

Emergency Employment and Assistance Programs PROGRAM

CAMP (Php 5000.00 per worker)

PAID BENEFICIAIRES REGION XII

AMOUNT (PHP)

BARMM

9,177

-

45,885,000.00

TUPAD- #BKBK

13,951

1,666.00

54,230,780.00

TUPAD - Post COVID Intervention

20,457

1,039.00

67,366,970.00

4,063

1,616.00

56,790,000.00

858

-

858,000.00

1903

-

31,982,455.38

50,409

4,321.00

257,113,205.38

DOLE AKAP SAP for Sugar Industry Workers (Php 1000.00 per worker) DILP- Post COVID Intervention TOTAL

Source of data: DOLE XII (As of August 05, 2020) TUPAD #BKBK- Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Displaced or Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) Program # Barangay Ko, Bahay Ko (#BKBK) CAMP- COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program SAP- Social Amelioration Program (SAP) for Sugar Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 53

For the period under review, about 234 workers in the region were affected by the permanent closure of their establishments.

Most of these workers were recorded in Koronadal City at about 149 out of the 234 affected workers. For retrenchment activities, about 628 workers were affected, most of which were also recorded in Koronadal City at about 254 workers.

For workers undergoing Flexible Work Arrangements (FWAs), a total of 12,589 workers were affected with the bulk of these workers located in the Province of South

Cotabato at about 2,373 workers followed by Cotabato Province at about 2,188 workers.

The temporary closure of establishments posted the highest number of affected workers at about 19,177 workers in the region with the bulk identified in General Santos City at about 4,437 workers. Seven (7) establishments were recorded to have permanently closed while thirty-three (33) establishments implemented reduction/ retrenchment of their workforce.

Table 25 Number of Affected Establishments and Workers, Region XII

PROVINCES AND CITY

PERMANENTLY CLOSED ESTABLISHMENTS

REDUCTION OF WORKFORCE/ RETRENCHMENT

FLEXIBLE WORK ARRANGEMENT IMPLEMENTATIONS

TEMPORARY CLOSURES

NO. OF ESTABLIS HMENTS

NO. OF AFFECTED WORKERS

NO. OF ESTABLIS HMENTS

NO. OF AFFECTED WORKERS

NO. OF ESTABLIS HMENTS

NO. OF AFFECTED WORKERS

NO. OF ESTABLIS HMENTS

NO. OF AFFECTED WORKERS

REGION 12

7

234

33

628

513

12,589

1,629

19,177

Cotabato City

1

2

2

32

812

106

1,286

General Santos City

10

102

1,821

269

4,437

Kidapawan City

3

56

1,579

226

2,363

8

81

1,731

235

2,762

Tacurong City

-

32

444

213

1,867

Cotabato Province

4

79

2,188

168

2,051

Sarangani Province

1

30

570

76

1,143

South Cotabato

5

56

2,373

97

1,292

45

1,071

239

1,976

Koronadal City

Sultan Kudarat

4

2

149

83

Source of data: DOLE XII (As of August 05, 2020)

54 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

Figure 11

Affected Establishments per City and Province, Region XII

To ensure the strict compliance of establishments to safety protocols established under the anticipated new normal conditions, monitoring activities have been conducted based on the DTI & DOLE Interim Guidelines on Workplace Prevention and Control of CoVID-19.

A total of 337 establishments with 60, 042 workers were monitored. Of the said

establishments, 100 are micro enterprises, 172 are small, 32 are medium and 33 are large enterprises.

For the period under review, about 3,911 repatriated OFWs were provided with immediate assistance and support such as quarantine shelter, transportation and food/ meals.

Challenges Even with the presence of immediate intervention policies to address the sudden loss of employment and livelihood, the sector is still faced with challenges especially in sustaining support programs with limited resources. Among other challenges identified by the sector are as follows: • Due to the closure of establishments whether temporary or permanent, as reported in the general assessment,

•

workers have experienced loss of employment, livelihood and income especially for those belonging to the formal and informal sector, as well as of OFWs and repatriates from other cities and provinces The COVID-19 pandemic poses a threat to food security in the region as economic activities such as production and manufacturing of consumer

Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 55

goods were temporarily put to a halt while consumption levels remained high due to sustaining the needs of affected individuals under the various community quarantine assistance programs of LGUs. Hence, areas such as the skill development and increased participation of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in the region’s labor force in the production and manufacturing sector is

•

•

seen as one of the solutions to address the challenge of food security Lack of skilled workers needed to address the demands arising from the new normal conditions such in the areas of IT, Health, and Construction\ Compliance to workplace safety and precautionary measures under new normal conditions

e. Urban and Housing Development

Assessment The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the urban and housing development in the region and in the entire country. It highlighted the urgency in building a community that is safe, secured and promotes maximum health security of the people with equal access to basic services and response efforts of the government to make it more livable and could withstand the threat brought by the pandemic.

The shutdown and temporary stoppage of businesses offering non-essential products and services in accordance to the government’s pronouncement on Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) that lasted for several months resulted to deferrals of the implementation of the housing-related projects and programs and even the processing of the documents of the proposed housing projects of the local government units (LGUs). Hence, the beneficiaries were not relocated to the settlement sites prior to the pandemic and the implementation of the ECQ. The Agencies in the urban and housing development sub-sector devised and implemented the following in order to address the immediate effects of the infectious contagious disease: • •

•

Issuance of an advisory on the moratorium on monthly amortization of socialized housing and condominiums during the period of ECQ. Issuance of the DHSUD Department Order No. 2020-05 dated May 14, 2020 affirming the Guidelines that must be followed by companies engaged in Real Estate Business, Development and Construction Operations and Activities covered by the DHSUD that are intending to resume or commence their operation during the COVID-19 state of public health emergency or the implementation of community quarantine.

Issuance of the NHA Memorandum Circular No. 2020-033 dated May 20, 2020 regarding the guidelines to implementing units in the implementation of projects covered by the agency including Local Government Unit (LGU)-

56 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

• •

•

implemented projects.

Allotment of PhP 261.5 Million for the implementation of the Resettlement Emergency Assistance Program (REAP) for the COVID-19 affected families.

The National Housing Authority XII has reduced its appropriation for FY 2020 to 33% or PhP61.78 Million that is supposedly allotted for its Programs, Projects and Activities in order to fund the operations and response measures to the COVID-19 emergency. As a result, the agency adjusted its work program based on the reported doable projects for FY 2020 by its district office in compliance to the National Budget Circular (NBC) No. 580.

The National Housing Authority (NHA) Regional Office XII being the Secretariat of the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program Council per Executive Order (EO) 114 s. 2020 has started facilitating the registration of program beneficiaries. The table below shows the number of enrollees of the program in the region.

Table 26 Number of enrollees for the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program for

Region XII. LGU/PROVINCE

NUMBER OF ENROLEES/POTENTIAL BENEFICIARIES

Cotabato

1,024

Sarangani

373

South Cotabato

1,189

Sultan Kudarat

505

Total

3,091

Source of data: NHA XII

Region XII has a total of 3,091 Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa enrollees as of July 31, 2020. These enrollees can avail of the housing programs and/or assistance of the government upon their return to their respective community. They shall be given safe, decent and disaster resilient dwellings that adapt to the RIATF standards.

DHSUD crafted strategies in order to address the gaps brought by the pandemic - Improve housing affordability in consideration to the increased unemployment, loss of income and livelihood, increased production cost and housing redesign.

Challenges •

Delayed approval of housing project proposals due to the implementation of the community quarantine and observance of the precautionary measures against the pandemic which subsequently affects the implementation of the said projects.

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The precautionary measures to prevent or possibly avoid the virus were applied in processing the housing project proposals of the Local government Units (LGUs) in the region as an immediate response to the protocols and safety measures formulated by the National/Regional Inter Agency Task Force (N/RIATF) for COVID-19. The observance of such protocols causes delays in processing the requirements for housing projects most especially that limited numbers of employees are allowed in the office to facilitate the concerns of their clients/stakeholders.

The Beneficiaries especially those families •

The implementers of housing projects shall require resumption of construction of the said projects to provide the shelter needs of the beneficiaries most especially during this pandemic - a safe, decent and secure homes and communities.

Conflict among home developers, homeowners and local government units with the resumption of activities in the real estate industry

Homeowners’’ associations, LGUs and those families belonging in the community where housing construction and development is taking place are still apprehensive in allowing the resumption of construction works within their jurisdiction over health and security concerns in connection with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as there is a possibility that the construction workers, laborers and other personnel are the host and carrier of such infectious disease and may result to massive infection and spread of the virus in their area/ community.

The issuance of the The DHSUD Department Order No. 2020-05 affirming the guidelines •

who were affected by the recent calamities in the region who are just staying in makeshift houses/temporary shelters are severely affected by the delayed implementation of the housing program. Thus, the need to fasttrack the provision and/or implementation of the housing projects to those affected by calamities and other recent disasters is a priority.

on the commencement or resumption of Real Estate Businesses, Development and Constructions Operations and activities covered by DHSUD during the state of public health emergency will help address the health and security issues on the implementation and resumption of housing projects in the region.

Also, collaboration of the LGUs, agencies, contractors/developers, communities and other stakeholders will circumvent conflicts between or among stakeholders and fasttrack the delivery of housing projects and/ or assistance and will support its proper implementation.

Increase in the density of the communities which affects the quality of living of the vulnerable households;

The influx of returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and other repatriates through the Hatid Probinsya Program, the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program and other programs of the government offering relocation of individuals and

families to provinces due to (a) loss of job, (b) unsafe dwelling places, (c) exposure to health and safety risks and other environmental hazards in the National Capital Region (NCR) and other highly urbanized cities, (d) decongestion of

58 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

overpopulated cities and HUCs resulted to densification of the communities. Due to the increased population, the observance of the RIATF standards to prevent the occurrence and/or spread of the infectious disease has become a problem to households with large •

number of family members, has affected employment and sources of income due to the increased number of labor force and available jobs in the area, and increased presence of shanties and indecent houses in the community.

Un-readiness of housing-related programs and projects for the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa beneficiaries.

Currently, specific programs in the regional level for the housing concerns of the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program beneficiaries that would conform to the standards of the RIATF is still being developed. The housing-concerned agencies are conducting an inventory of the

unoccupied housing projects of the local government units (LGUs). However, the quality and the design of the houses are not in conformance to the RIATF standards to avoid COVID-19 and other similar infectious contagious diseases.

4. Technological Assessment Technology is indeed a critical component in the government’s efforts against the pandemic and in the people’s efforts to adapt and live in the new normal situation. In response to the pandemic, various systems were developed to help the government monitor the number of cases in the country such as DOST’s Feasibility Analysis of Syndromic Surveillance using Spatio-Temporal Epidemiological Modeler (FASSSTER) which assists our policymakers create evidence-based strategies, and TanodCOVID which helps engage our local officials in self-reporting of symptoms for contact tracing. StaySafe.PH, a project of the Interagency Task Force (IATF-EID) on Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and National Task Force (NTF) on COVID-19, was also developed by Multisys Technologies Corporation which empowers the public in the fight against COVID-19 by enabling people to report their health condition and facilitate the government in contact tracing.

While COVID-19 Testing Centers (e.g. Cotabato Regional Medical Center in Cotabato City, Dr. Arturo Pingoy Medical Center in Koronadal City and St. Elizabeth Hospital in Gen. Santos City) have been established in the region, a web-based and mobile-based Provincial ID Tracking System or the South Cotabato COVID-19 Contract Tracing System (SC-CCTS) for efficient contact tracing is already in place. Local discovery of vaccines by local experts/scientists and research on the efficacy of Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) against COVID-19 are also on-going.

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Due to the pandemic, the demand for technologies and their utilization soared high. While physical distancing and wearing of personal protective equipment such as masks are required for everyone’s safety, digital technology as well as research and development have become more important than ever. There is a dire need for up-to-date digital facilities and fast and stable internet connection for alternative learning, virtual meetings/conferences, and e-commerce. The necessity to strengthen cybersecurity has become a top priority. Also, there is an increase in demand for health-related technology and innovation, R&D and commercialization of safe, nutritious, and well packaged agri-food products and medical and health researches in the region.

Challenges •

Limited/slow adoption and utilization of existing technologies developed to help monitor the number of cases of COVID-19 in the region.

technologies developed to help monitor the number of cases of COVID-19 in the region. Among these technologies not fully •

Low R&D expenditures.

The country continued to underinvest in research and development (R&D). Latest available data reveal that the Philippines’ overall R&D expenditure remained at 0.14 percent of the gross domestic product •

(GDP) in 2015 reflecting low public and private sector R&D expenditure relative to its ASEAN peers. (Source: NEDA 2018 SER – Chapter 14).

Underutilization of STI activities’ outputs.

. The commercialization or the transfer of outputs of innovation activities to the mainstream market and to the public remains difficult. Many innovation outputs lie dormant and underutilized.

•

utilized include DOST’s FASSSTER and TanodCOVID, StaySafe.PH and SC-CCTS.

The information dissemination activities particularly on available technologies remain low, while government campaigns continue to be fragmented. (Source: NEDA 2017 SER – Chapter 14).

Unreliable Digital Infrastructure.

With the increased demand of internet use due to the pandemic, internet speed is greatly affected and cybersecurity is a threat. Private firms, government agencies and schools are now adopting work from home arrangements and business

transactions are being done online, e.g., online retail, online banking, online medical consultations, and digital payments. All these activities need to be supported by a reliable digital infrastructure system with strong cybersecurity protection.

60 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

5. Infrastructure a.

Transport Development

a.1 Road-Based Transport

Assessment The Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and the subsequent issuances of Executive Orders by the Local Chief Executives in the region placing their respective areas of jurisdiction under community quarantine had severely impacted the transport sector. Travel bans and border closures were being applied to contain the spread of the virus considering that public transport is a high-risk environment for the spread of COVID-19. It halted people’s mobility and limited the transport of goods in and out of the region as well as access to essential services.

The country’s flagship’s program “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) was not spared from the impact of COVID-19. Some of the major infrastructure projects in the region were temporarily suspended due to the preemptive lockdown initiated by the Local Government Units (LGUs) and the movement restrictions that hindered the workers from going to and fro their work. Although the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had resumed works for BBB and its other major infrastructure projects’ strict compliance to the construction safety guidelines issued by the DPWH must be observed as we are now transitioning to the “new normal”.

Thus, the following challenges have to be addressed:

Challenges •

Reduced passenger capacity per trip in the observance of physical distancing.

Travel between workplaces, schools, and urban centers will be affected as physical distancing is the new normal. The Omnibus Public Transport Protocols/Guidelines set by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the IATF-EID covering Road Transport and other transport sectors have been observed to ensure safety of all commuters/riding public, as well as

its drivers and conductors. Operations of public transportation and other shared mobility services will be limited to a certain number of passengers per trip to ensure that physical distancing is followed. This might lead to reduced income for public transport operators and drivers, reduced travel and transport demand.

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•

Strict imposition of travel restrictions in high-risk areas.

In the wake of COVID-19, only few vehicles traverse the national roads as travel restrictions have been strictly imposed. This had a positive effect on our environment since less cars travelled on the road; hence, less greenhouse gas emission.

•

Low quality public transport and lack of public transport and traffic management plans by the LGUs.

As we begin the process of recovery and slowly shift to the new normal, travel restrictions will be progressively eased; hence, riding public will likely to increase once again. The dominant public transport vehicle in the region is the three-wheeled vehicle or tricycles which is poorly regulated.

The lack of reliable and convenient public transport coupled with reduced passenger capacity, may move people away from public •

transport and shift to private vehicle use.

An increase in private vehicle trips could lead to road congestions especially in urban areas. Further, almost all provinces and cities in the region have not yet formulated their local public transport route plan, except for General Santos City, which is supposed to provide systematic solutions or improvements to traffic problems.

Poor or bad road condition and inadequate road safety features, particularly along major thoroughfares (e.g., road signage, street lights, etc.)

Poor infrastructure provision is a major cause of congestion, especially in urban areas.

Based on the DPWH Atlas 2019, Region XII has around 215.77 km of the national road to be in poor or bad condition. Fast and safe transport of our frontliners in this time of pandemic as well as delivery of health services to remote areas will be disrupted •

However, this also affects the economy of the region particularly the infrastructure sector since workers had difficulty in going to their respective workplaces, aggravated by exhaustive health and safety measures required in all workplaces.

due to poor or bad road conditions. Hence, they will be deprived of the benefits to fully utilize the intended use of these large-scale government projects. Further, road safety is the primordial concern of each and every citizen especially in this time of pandemic where the entire country is suffering from a health crisis.

Poor road network connectivity leading to production areas, tourism sites, trade centers, industries, economic zones, and roads leading to Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs).

Despite the region’s significant accomplishments during the previous years, these remains inadequate vis-à-vis the growing demand. There is a need to bring production areas closer to its market, improve access roads leading to tourism

destinations, trade centers, industries, and economic zones to spur economic activity and immediately recover losses incurred during pandemic, and connect GIDAs to urban and service centers.

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a.2. Airport Development

Assessment With the pandemic faced by the country wherein community quarantine needs to be implemented with the purpose of mitigating the spread of COVID-19, public transportation was one of the sectors deeply affected. The restrictions set by the national government and local government units on public transportation resulted in the cancellation of passenger flights in the airports of the region, particularly at General Santos City International Airport and Cotabato Airport. However, cargo flights were allowed to continue and operate by the national government in order not to hamper the flow of basic goods in the region.

With the resumption of flights in the two functional airports (General Santos City International Airport and Cotabato Airport) of the region, the airlines had operated in a reduced passenger capacity in the observance of physical/social distancing protocols. Along this line, the National Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (NIATF-EID) had also denied the request of some airlines to increase the frequency or number of flights per day at the General Santos City International Airport. The objective of the decision was to minimize the exposure of people to be infected with the virus. However, this situation affected the airlines’ operations and income, and posed difficulty for passengers to get a flight due to reduced passenger capacity and limited number flights per day.

As regards to the development of the airports in the region, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) had allotted funds for the major improvement of facilities within the airport premises, as well as payments for the right-of-way (ROW).

• General Santos City International Airport The DOTr had allocated an amount of PHP 500 Million in 2017 for the Expansion and Rehabilitation of the Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) of the General Santos City International Airport at Tambler, General Santos City. However, during the implementation of the project, several revisions were made from the original scope of work. Based on the original project’s duration of 720 calendar days, the project should have been completed in 2018. The contractor committed to complete the project in September 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic faced by the country in the first quarter of 2020. Among

the facilities and components of the project include the new departure area at the second floor, repair/construction of new check-in counters and the installation of Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security (CIQS) facilities, travel immigration controls and health checks. Nonetheless, even if the project will be completed, a lot of equipment and facilities still need to be provided in order to be at par with the other airports in the country and to meet international standards. Likewise, the CY 2020 allocated funds for the development of the airport were realigned to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

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• Central Mindanao (M’lang) Airport The implementation of projects for the development of Central Mindanao (M’lang) Airport were either suspended or delayed due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and problems on right-of-way and land ownership acquisition. The airport is primarily intended to support and provide efficient access for mobility of passengers and transport agricultural products from the different areas in the central part of Mindanao bound for export on domestic

and international markets. Some of the major agricultural products produced in the area are rice, sugarcane, corn, oil palm, and tropical fruits such as pomelo, banana, mango, and coconut. Travelers, especially residents of Cotabato province and neighboring areas, can disembark at the said airport that will lessen their travel time and the said airport shall also serve as an alternate route.

• Cotabato (Awang) Airport Even though the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) was already created, the management of the airport still remains under the national government through the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CCAP).

There is no definite arrangement yet with regard to its transfer to the BARMM. The Cotabato Airport serves the region of SOCCSKSARGEN and the province of Maguindanao.

Challenges • •

Inadequate airport facilities that downscale the competitiveness to meet international standards; and Reduced passenger capacity per trip in the observance of physical/social distancing protocols.

a.3 Seaport Development

Assessment Ports play a vital role in the economic activity in the region especially in the coastal areas. They are also crucial for the support of economic undertakings in the hinterland since ports act as a crucial connection between sea and land transport.

Region XII has one main port, the Makar Port and three terminal ports which are located in Kalamansig, Glan and Cotabato. These ports are being managed by the government, the Philippine Ports Authority Port Management Office (PPA64 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

PMO) – Socsargen. For CY 2020, there are no major projects implemented in the different ports due to the on-going review of the unsolicited proposal of the Kudos Trucking Corporation, which will handle the development, operations and maintenance of the port. In this regard, there is a need to fast-track the review and approval of the unsolicited proposal in order that major infrastructure facilities can be implemented to make the said ports competitive with other ports in the country.

Challenges •

b.

Inadequate seaport facilities that lower their competitiveness to attract and handle more domestic and international passenger and cargo traffic.

Water Resources Development and Management

Assessment The experience of COVID-19 pandemic has imposed massive health and economic burdens on communities in the region. All sectors across all levels have felt the full extent of its impact even at present. Some of these impacts are short-lived, generally limited to the period when everyone was enjoined to stay-at-home and businesses closed. However, there are longer-term impacts if the pandemic remains out of control, unemployment remains high, people in the construction sector continue to work in reduced capacity, hence creating deeper changes to the economy. One area that has come to the fore with the COVID-19 pandemic is the water resources sector which underscored the need for the water resources sector to bolster its resilience so it can effectively respond to the competing and rising demand for water for consumption, production and commercial uses.

Governance not only during but also post-COVID-19 pandemic is one of the fundamental pillars to ensure efficient, effective and timely development and management of water resources in the region.

As the region progresses from the time it was classified under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) until it was placed under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ), the sector has faced various challenges that need to be responded to in order to mitigate and prevent worse case scenarios brought about by the pandemic. Consequently, the competing and rising demand for water for consumption, production and commercial uses prompted the sector to rethink and reassess the effectiveness of the strategies and approaches employed during the first five (5) months of the heightened experience on the pandemic so as to build a more resilient and sustainable future as we venture and adapt to a “new normal” state.

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For the next two-three years, efforts and interventions will focus on addressing the following challenges:

Challenges b.1 Water Supply and Sanitation •

Higher demand for clean and potable water due to intensified advocacy on hand washing

The COVID-19 pandemic has made access to water, sanitation and hygiene a more urgent priority especially in areas where water supply is limited and intermittent.

The intensified advocacy and campaign on the importance of hand washing for 20 seconds to limit the spread of the virus, and attain better physical health and protection of the environment was internalized by the majority of the people making water an essential economic and social good. The installation/putting up of hand washing stations and foot baths in public places, offices, malls and other establishments has become a common practice/standard operating procedure as the region opens up to restart its economy. Employees, clients and customers were required to wash their hands before entering the premises of the establishments. Family members who go out of the house were enjoined to take a bath before entering their respective abodes. Offices, establishments and homes are required to be disinfected as often as •

possible.

These changes in the lifestyle and work pattern as we adapt to the new normal state has contributed to the rise for water demand and the consumption of more water for disinfection than the regular use.

As observed, residential and commercial water demand and use has increased. The measures and efforts adopted to ensure safety from contacting COVID-19 virus also pose competition between the water demand for agricultural production and human consumptive uses, which need to be addressed in the long term. Hence, the need to look into the sources of water supply to ensure water availability, quality and reliability and prevent conflict among water users, the risk of drought due to poor management practices and the unsustainable extraction of water, worsening water quality and ecological degradation as a result of various anthropogenic activities.

Limited access to safe drinking water of some communities

The COVID-19 pandemic has made access to water, sanitation and hygiene a more urgent priority especially in areas where water supply is limited and intermittent.

The intensified advocacy and campaign

on the importance of hand washing for 20 seconds to limit the spread of the virus, and attain better physical health and protection of the environment was internalized by the majority of the people making water an

66 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

essential economic and social good. The installation/putting up of hand washing stations and foot baths in public places, offices, malls and other establishments has become a common practice/standard operating procedure as the region opens up to restart its economy. Employees, clients and customers were required to wash their hands before entering the premises of the establishments. Family members who go out of the house were enjoined to take a bath before entering their respective abodes. Offices, establishments and homes are required to be disinfected as often as possible.

These changes in the lifestyle and work pattern as we adapt to the new normal state has contributed to the rise for water •

Limited access to safe drinking water of some communities

Apart from the changes in the water demand during the pandemic period, there are still households in the region that have limited access to safe drinking water. DOH XII data record for CY 2019 revealed that out of the 1,132,821 households in Region XII, 86.42 percent or 978,956 of the households have access to safe drinking water. There remains about 13.56 percent or 153,865 households with no access to safe drinking water. Across provinces and cities, South Cotabato recorded the highest in terms of percentage of households using safely managed drinking water services at 85.90 percent and with Sultan Kudarat Province as the lowest at 16.90 percent.

•

demand and the consumption of more water for disinfection than the regular use.

As observed, residential and commercial water demand and use has increased. The measures and efforts adopted to ensure safety from contacting COVID-19 virus also pose competition between the water demand for agricultural production and human consumptive uses, which need to be addressed in the long term. Hence, the need to look into the sources of water supply to ensure water availability, quality and reliability and prevent conflict among water users, the risk of drought due to poor management practices and the unsustainable extraction of water, worsening water quality and ecological degradation as a result of various anthropogenic activities.

The regulation of potable drinking water falls under the Local Water District and Utilities Administration (LWUA) in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) through the city and municipal health offices of the LGUs, while the DENR regulates effluent standards for wastewater quality. With the institutional structure that is being adopted at present, there is difficulty in generating data on water supply and sanitation. Moreover, there is a need to harmonize and consolidate fragmented information and data generation for water supply and sanitation for easy monitoring of the households, areas and location, as well as provision of interventions.

Inadequate facilities to address domestic wastes

Sanitation is one of the concerns that the region needs to focus on especially with the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic.

Sewerage and septage treatment facilities have remained low in the region. There are still some areas that practice open

defecation, especially in highly populated ones, as toilets are not available in the majority of poor households.

Per report of EMB XII, across provinces and cities, only Sarangani Province and Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 67

Cotabato City were able to establish a septage treatment facility in their respective areas that would cater to their respective municipalities/barangays. Other LGUs have yet to establish their respective septage treatment facilities. This condition contributed to polluted waterways and allowed the spread of waterborne diseases thereby affecting the health condition of most communities. In addition, the majority of households with toilets are connected to septic tanks that are poorly designed or maintained, therefore, most effluent is likely to be discharged in bodies of water without treatment. It was also observed for the past several years that very few LGUs in

Region XII have initiated sanitation plans and programs to implement sewerage and septage treatment facilities. While some LGUs recognize sanitation problems, they are also constrained by the high investment and operating costs of sewerage systems and septage treatment facilities, and limited willingness-to-pay by the stakeholders.

Moreover, the LGU preparation of the water supply and sanitation master plan that would serve as a guide for the overall implementation of Water Supply and Sanitation programs and projects is also very much wanted.

b.2 Flood Risk Management •

Slow implementation of major flood risk and drainage projects

The region continuously experienced flooding in some areas. The unsustainable practices in the upstream such as cutting of trees or kaingin, and clogged waterways in the downstream due to low compliance and weak implementation of Solid Waste Management plans and programs and poor drainage systems of most LGUs contributed to inundation in low lying areas.

Flooding in most instances brings along with it destruction to people’s lives, agricultural crops, properties and facilities.

With this experience, people are forced to evacuate to high grounds, elevated areas and resettlement sites where they tend to flock and converge making physical social distancing less of a priority. Health safety

is compromised as health and sanitation protocols are less observed in evacuation centers.

In addition, flooding also affects vast areas of agricultural crops and properties, thus, affecting our agricultural production and food supply.

Moreover, the absence of appropriate Flood Control and Drainage Master Plans of most LGUs and slow implementation of appropriate flood risk control measures in the major river basins in the region particularly the Mindanao River Basin (MRB) due to limited funding support resulted in staggered implementation of major flood control projects.

c. Electric Power Supply Development and Management

Assessment 68 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

Majority of the Region’s power consumption has shifted to residential from industrial during the pandemic period. However, provision of stable and reliable electricity still needs to be sustained since it plays an important role for the much needed critical infrastructure and industries that provide the needs of the people and support the government to fight the disease while preventing economic slowdown due to the series of community quarantine implementation. Hence, power generation, transmission and distribution facilities and services need to be secured as it is constantly being confronted with pressing issues such as sporadic power interruptions; limited and unreliable transmission systems and electrification gaps in off-grid areas. Strengthening the implementation of energy programs and projects is deemed necessary to support the needs of the people and industries in the new normal state. Formulation of policies shall also be prioritized to address the following challenges:

Challenges •

Low electricity demand due to the decrease of consumption by bulk consumers that resulted in excess generation and excess reserve capacity which has affected power purchase agreements between Distribution Utilities (DUs) and Generating Companies (GenCos) that may slowdown power projects investment.

The shutting down of production companies and other bulk consumers such as restaurants and tourist facilities, and the reduction in demand for products and services has reduced the demand for electricity. This has implications on the •

High demand for stable, reliable and adequate supply of electricity particularly by critical infrastructure and facilities.

Given that electric power is critical to support the operations of hospital buildings and facilities, business establishments and utilities to produce essential goods, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) equipment and •

Power Supply Agreements or contracts made between distribution utilities and power generation companies. This situation, if would stay longer, may also urge investors to slow down its investment on new power projects.

infrastructures, and even to power up home appliances and other electronic gadgets for distant learning and the “stay home” status, stability and reliability of the power supply is deemed necessary.

High demand for stable, reliable and adequate supply of electricity particularly by critical infrastructure and facilities.

Given that electric power is critical to support the operations of hospital buildings and facilities, business establishments

and utilities to produce essential goods, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) equipment and Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 69

infrastructures, and even to power up home appliances and other electronic gadgets for distant learning and the “stay home” status, •

Occurrence of forced outages of generating power plants and transmission networks and facilities.

Forced outages are results of immediate shut-down of power plants due to operation breakdown, and transmission system breakdown due to terrorist activities •

This resulted in in-voltage collapse and rotational power interruptions in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, Cotabato, and South Cotabato provinces. Natural calamities are also relentlessly unavoidable threats;

Presence of right-of-way (ROW) issues during the development and maintenance of transmission network and facilities.

Installation and maintenance of transmission lines and towers by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) are frequently confronted with right-ofway (ROW) issues which hampers the steady delivery of power especially to the countryside thereby contributing to the •

and natural hazard. Plant breakdown are common to older plants which require more frequent maintenance and repairs;

Presence of security issues and natural calamity threats to power generating plants, and transmission/distribution lines and facilities.

Transmission and distribution lines are highly at risk from terrorist activities and natural calamities which threatens the stability and reliability of the electric power supply. In CY 2017, three (3) transmission towers of the Kibawe Kabacan 138 KV line suffered damages due to bombing.

•

stability and reliability of the power supply is deemed necessary.

instability of electric power supply. NGCP legally holds the ROW in areas traversed by its high-voltage lines, but conducting repairs and other maintenance works in several areas were often confronted by landowners claiming for compensation;

Inadequate distribution system planning capabilities of distribution utilities (DUs) to assess the physical and operational changes in the electric grid and its local distribution network, and electricity demands in order to provide safe, reliable and affordable service that satisfy customers’ expectations.

Reliable and stable distribution of power to the consumers relies on the effective planning of the DUs. Forecasting of power demand and supply is essential in engaging power supply contracts, and in

the identification and implementation of projects that will address the growing power consumption in the DUs area of responsibility;

70 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

•

Poor electricity distribution network access in the rural and off-grid areas.

Although all barangays in Region XII have been energized, only 78.20 percent of all •

Slow pace in the development of Renewable Energy projects in terms of installed capacity.

There is a slow pace in the installation of RE power plants as compared to Nonrenewable energy (Non-RE) in terms of installed capacity. Non-RE remained the dominant power source in Mindanao in CY 2019. Renewable Energy sources only generate 31.82 percent, while non-RE sources generate 68.18 percent of the total power installed capacity in the region.

•

sitios were energized in CY 2018, a slight increase from 77.70 percent in CY 2017;

Accelerating renewable energy is a global overarching goal to address the growing concerns on the negative impacts of climate change to the environment, nature and people. Hence, promoting investments on RE projects will support the target set by the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) to triple the 2010 installed capacity by 2030 in the country; and

Inefficient use of electricity by consumers.

Use of Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) is still prevalent among consumers instead of the more efficient Light Emitting Diodes (LED) lights. In addition, Energy

Management System (EnMS) were not yet fully established and implemented among bulk power consumers including government entities.

d. Information and Communications Technology

(ICT)/Digital Infrastructure Development and Management

Assessment The crisis brought by the COVID-19 pandemic placed the ICT industry in a vital position in adapting and transitioning to the new normal state. The demand for the utilization of digital infostructure and ICT equipment and services significantly increased.

The government calls for the acceleration of the country’s digital transformation, as it promotes digital interaction in various areas such as digital literacy including e-sessions and webinars for education, e-commerce and digital platforms for the business sector, and electronic processing for various government transactions to lessen physical interactions.

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Upsurge in online transactions was observed since the declaration of the Enhance Community Quarantine (ECQ) in the country, as the majority of the interactions were done virtually. Most of the employees both in the government and private companies were placed under work-from-home arrangements, and students were placed on distance learning modalities. This condition has become financially challenging for both workers and students since they have to allot a portion of their income and/or their parents’ income to avail internet services.

The high cost of broadband subscription for internet connectivity, such as Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), cable modem, fiber and wireless among the most common technologies, has been a financial burden.

It was also observed that many of the common Filipino workers who were financially affected by the crisis shifted and/or opted to enter online businesses, such as online selling and services. This caused a change in the purchasing habits of the consumers. Electronic commerce soared amid the pandemic which demanded more e-payment platforms. Thus, financial technology should be considered as the foundation of digital services.

As digital technology takes the major part in the new normal, where electronic exchange of data among individuals and organizations becomes part of the routine, there is a need to strengthen the cybersecurity aspect in the country.

Also, with the current crisis, the absence of a national emergency frequency remains as a challenge, which could have been used to effectively address the need for real time operations and disaster mitigation during emergencies.

Increasing reliance on technology in all ways of life as the country enters the new normal entails higher demand for stable, fast/high-speed, efficient and affordable mobile and internet services. Poor accessibility of Cellular Mobile Telephone System (CMTS), and slow broadband connectivity in some areas within the cities and municipalities of the region need to be addressed. As recorded by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) XII in 2019, only 93.2 percent of the barangays in Region XII have CMTS coverage, and 85.9 percent with broadband coverage.

The need for higher investments in ICT and digital infostructure for both public and private sectors is evident. Even though the telecommunications industry was able to launch the third major TelCo player (DITTO) in the country, the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant delays in the establishment of the new TelCo’s key infrastructures as they approach peak potential on their roll-out activities.

During the 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in July 2020, he called on concerned companies and agencies to implement appropriate measures to boost connectivity, promote electronic governance (e-governance), utilize ICT for education, and toughen up the country’s cybersecurity.

Given the foregoing situation of the ICT/Digital Infrastructure sub-sector, the following challenges need to be addressed: 72 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

Challenges • Higher investments in ICT and digital infrastructure facilities; • Higher demand for stable, fast/high-speed, efficient and affordable internet service; • High cost of broadband subscription for internet connectivity; • Higher demand for e-payment and e-commerce platforms and weak cybersecurity; • Poor accessibility of Cellular Mobile Telephone System (CMTS), and Slow broadband connectivity in some areas within the cities and municipalities of the region; • Poor services of existing TelCos and key infrastructure delays on the roll-out of the third major TelCo; • Lack of policy/congressional law/franchise to tap the broadband connection of the BIMP-EAGA-Rink; and • Absence of a national emergency frequency.

6. Legal Assessment On March 18, 2020, the Office of the Executive Secretary directed all heads of departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the government, including the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), Government Financial Institutions (GFIs), State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), and Local Government Units (LGUs) to adopt, coordinate, and implement guidelines which the IATF issued related to addressing the COVID-19 situation, consistent with the respective agency mandates and relevant laws, rules, and regulations.

Challenges •

Data Privacy vs. Public Health

On April 8, 2020, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) issued a resolution adopting the policy of

“mandatory public disclosure” of personal information relating to patients who have tested positive for COVID-19. This was aimed at enhancing the contact-tracing Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 73

efforts of the government which triggered public concerns as it calls for personal information collection, processing, and disclosure such as personal data, including sensitive personal information such as its health condition, travel history, and frequented places for purposes of contact tracing and monitoring. These concerns served as a hindrance in securing the full cooperation and compliance of the public to the information systems or software applications that were developed to aid government efforts in the conduct of contact tracing especially for those individuals exposed to COVID19 confirmed positive cases. The contact tracing apps were also intended to bolster the efforts in containing the spread of the virus.

The IATF-EID resolution is anchored on Republic Act (RA) No. 11332, or the “Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public •

Concern Act. The law mandates physicians, medical personnel, hospitals, clinics, laboratories, schools, and workplaces that have information on infected individuals to disclose critical data to the local and regional health officers and the Department of Health (DOH).

Relatedly, the National Privacy Commission (NPC) provided guidance that data/ information collection of the establishments/entities and reminded the importance of the issuance of “voluntary consent” to avoid future legal repercussions.

The NPC also cautioned data collecting entities to take responsibility for complying with the Data Privacy Act of 2012, and at the same time safekeeping or disposition of the collected information in a secure manner that would prevent further processing and/ or unauthorized access or disclosure to all personal data collected for other purposes.

Restrictions on Non-essential Travels vs. Right to Travel

Several policies that were issued restricted the non-essential travels especially for the vulnerable groups such as the senior citizens, persons who belong to the age group 21 and below, those with co-morbidities and the non-authorized persons outside of residences (non-APOR). The said policies raised some concerns about the affected and restricted individuals as it violated their right to travel. However, it is clearly stated under Section 6 of Article III of the Bill of Rights in the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines that “the liberty of abode and of changing the same within the limits prescribed by law shall not be impaired except upon lawful order of the court.

Neither shall the right to travel be impaired except in the interest of national security, public safety, or public health, as may be provided by law.” Thus, with the issuance of the Presidential Proclamations No. 922 and No. 929, the government’s imposition on

restrictions on the travel of citizens that are considered non-essential are therefore legal.

Meanwhile, human rights groups insisted that a person’s right to travel should not be curtailed. As a response of the government to the appeal, several policies were promulgated such as limiting the movement of the people in specific activities prescribed by the IATF policies, such as: requiring medical certificates, travel/movement passes/authority, and enactment of curfew hours, among others. However, securing medical certificates and travel passes or authority entails financial costs, time, and efforts that became a burden to the requesting/traveling public.

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7. Environment Assessment COVID-19 has affected the daily lives of all people in an exceptional range of ways, from staying at home, physical distancing, sanitation practices to travel bans. However, the pandemic is also influencing and healing our planet.

With the lockdown and travel restriction, the region posted a good record in history of air pollution levels dropping significantly. Reduction in emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx) carbon dioxide (CO2) and particulate matter (PM) were reduced due to restrictions in transport and business operations. For mobile sources, drastic decrease was recorded, from 78,829 vehicles before enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to 1,074 amid its observance.

Based on the data gathered by DENR-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) XII, PM10 or particulate matter of 10 micrometer or less in diameter (a common air pollutant) recorded a drastic drop for the period May to June 2020 in Koronadal and General Santos City Ambient Air Monitoring Stations, except in Tupi, South Cotabato.

Figure 12

Ambient Air Monitoring, May to June 2020

Source of data: EMB XII

However, this environmental benefit will only be temporary unless long-term measures to cut emissions shall be seriously implemented. It is a reminder that air pollution, including greenhouse gas emissions is a global threat that cannot Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 75

be ignored, even in this challenging time. The programs and projects in the sector play an important role in maintaining the environmental quality of the region, such as: forest and watershed management, inland wetland management, coastal and marine resources management, wildlife resources conservation and critical habitat management.

The sector noted that certain restrictions triggered by the crisis resulted positively not only in environmental changes of improved air and water quality, but also resurgence of wildlife and renewed interest in community-based greening programs and integration of green technologies are expected to emerge. Urban and backyard gardening will be heavily promoted to improve the environmental atmosphere, as well as to support food security and sustainability. The recent pandemic highlighted the impact of consumerism on the environment. With renewed sense of consciousness of the environment and the surroundings, people are expected to use and manage natural resources and biodiversity, more conscientiously.

Meanwhile, there was an increasing generation of hazardous waste from hospitals and healthcare units which can be attributed to peoples’ awareness on cleanliness and sanitation protocols imposed by the government for all, specifically on the use of disposable face masks/ surgical masks, personal protective equipment (PPEs), hazmat suits, face shields, and alcohols/sanitizers. The monitoring of the implementation of toxic substances and hazardous waste management resumed only in June 2020, after three months of quarantine period. For the month of June 2020, it was reported that there was a total of 71 hazardous waste generators and importers, which is 89% higher than the target of eight (8) generators and importers for the month and a total of 83 hazardous waste storages and disposal facilities, which is 49% higher than the target of 43 facilities for the month.

Also, an increased use of water supply was recorded during the period due to sanitation protocol, which required all to practice hand washing at home and prior to entry in all establishments.

In the Mining, Quarrying, Sand and Gravel Industry, there was an observed proliferation of illegal operations brought about by the area restriction and limited monitoring activities. With the implementation of community lockdown and with the loss of employment and the need of communities whose livelihood depended greatly in the aforementioned industry, these families and individuals were forced to engage in illegal activities in order to source out income and cope up with their daily needs and necessities.

Operations to monitor and apprehend illegal activities were also affected due to the limitation and health protocols that should be considered in observing the new normal. The limited mining operations especially in aggregates resulted in less contribution from the sector, which also means lower revenue collection by the LGUs where these industries are operating; thus reducing the capacity of LGUs to fund social amelioration programs, among others.

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Challenges •

Increased healthcare, solid and hazardous waste generation

Based on the data generated by EMB XII, the number of waste generators and importers recorded an increase of about •

89% compared to its target. Likewise, hazardous waste storage and disposal facilities increased by about 49%.

Non-compliance by some LGUs in the region with RA 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act

Six (6) Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) are still in process, and pending presentation and critiquing at the regional •

level. These LGUs are the only ones left with no SWMPs.

Higher demand for water supply in households, testing laboratories, business establishments and government and private institutions due to sanitation protocol

The rising need for constant sanitation of surroundings and disinfection of frequently exposed individuals will result in a higher demand for water supply. Households and •

Manual Sampling of Air Quality Index

The quality assurance/quality control of air quality is done through manual and real time stations situated in highly urbanized cities and selected rural areas. The region maintained the three (3) ambient air monitoring stations in Koronadal City, Tupi, Province of South Cotabato and General Santos City which are all done through manual sampling. During the quarantine period, EMB XII personnel were not able •

various establishments may consume more water; hence, the number of applications for water use may increase.

to gather data due to travel restriction and resumed only in May 2020. This means that the region has no record of air quality from the middle of March up to the end of April 2020. However, Koronadal City station is currently operating as a real time station.

The Bureau is planning to convert the other two (2) stations into real time, once funds for the procurement of equipment is available.

Proliferation of illegal mining, quarrying, sand and gravel operations brought about by the area restriction and limited monitoring activities

With limited monitoring activities due to lockdown and area restriction, illegal mining, quarrying and sand and gravel activities were reported to proliferate

which is considered not only degrading the environment and welfare of people engaged but also resulted to non-collection of proper mineral taxes.

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Part 3

THE PLAN OUTCOME A. SOCCSKSARGEN Regional Recovery

Plan Strategic Framework The SOCCSKSARGEN Regional Recovery Plan is geared towards the realization of the country’s’ long term vision-AmBisyon Natin 2040 of having a “matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay para sa lahat.” It also adopted the goal of the National Risk Reduction and Management Plan (NDRRMP) that is to have safer, adaptive, and disaster-resilient Filipino communities that are protected from risks and can cope with and recover quickly from unfortunate event/s. It is also anticipated that this plan shall geared SOCCSKSARGERN towards a resilient and healthy region thereby sustaining the foundation for inclusive growth, a high trust society, and a globally competitive knowledge economy as articulated in the SOCCSKSARGEN Regional Development Plan 2017-2022 Midterm Update. This plan also ensures that no one is left behind in recovering forward better towards resilient communities and economy against the threat of pandemic towards a “matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay” through the seamless transition and adaptation of the CoVID-19 heavily affected sectors in the Region towards the “new normal”.

Figure 13 SOCCSKSARGEN RRP Framework

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B. Sector Outcome, Major Strategies and Sub-sector Strategies 1. Political a. Governance and Institutions Development Sub-sector Outcome: •

People-centered, Clean and Efficient Governance ensured pandemic

amidst the

Strategies The following mechanisms to combat the ill-effects of COVID-19 pandemic may be considered by public leaders in the region. These strategies may be intensified for the remainder of the period wherein effective vaccine/s are not yet available in the market. The Duterte Administration assured the public that the moment these vaccines are available, the government is ready to earmark the budget to procure them and at the first instance, administer it to the poorest of the poor COVID-19 patients for free.

a)

Effective Communication

Effective and proactive processing of incoming information is necessary to serve as baseline data as data can quickly dissipate with the influx of more real-time facts.

Public leaders must be keen on engaging interactive communication accompanied by expressions of assurances and optimism to ease tensions and dilemma. Effective communications can be constructive - using layman’s terms accompanied by narratives and expressed with some amount of empathy, transparency and sincerity in conveying the message could easily get the masses abide by the ideas that are being imparted.

Meanwhile, the active and important role of the quad media (print, broadcast, internet, and the movies) has been highlighted owing to the scourge brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. The citizens can now monitor the movement of the virus via real time feeds by the media.

The “Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino” (KWF) urged the public and all concerned agencies, particularly those that are in-charge in the information dissemination of COVID-19 subject matters, to be more prudent in their campaign by using local languages. The Commission has been receiving requests

82 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

from various stakeholders, including government agencies, to translate the infographics relating to the COVID-19 pandemic into Filipino and other native languages to make the information

b)

easily comprehended by the masses. The Commission also requested the public to use the Filipino language in all fora, meetings, public addresses and talk shows when discussing COVID-19.

Whole-of-Region Approach

Community quarantines are here to stay for quite some time and the people have become adept to this new normal. Citizens are encouraged to actively participate in the containment measures such as staying at home and avoiding non-essential travels/ exposure to crowded places; physical distancing and wearing of face masks while in public; and regular washing of hands, personal hygiene and sanitation. Local government units are also encouraged to establish their respective COVID-19 Contact Tracing System (CCTS).

Alternative working arrangements (AWA) is also the policy set by concerned agencies to avoid overcrowding of workplaces for both the public and private sector.

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) issued Resolution Number 2000540 on May 7, 2020 which was revised by Memorandum Circular (MC) 10, series of 2020 providing

for updated interim guidelines on AWA for government workers during the period of State of National Emergency due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Pursuant to MC 10, employees can opt for their preferred working arrangements, namely: Workfrom-Home; Skeleton Workforce; Fourday (Compressed) Workweek; Staggered Working Hours; or a combination of these AWAs. In the like manner, the CSC passed Resolution Number 2000596, s. of 2020 on June 16, 2020 cancelling the remaining CY 2020 pen and paper tests (PPT) and all other competency tests that are periodically spearheaded by the Commission and tentatively scheduled to conduct the same in CY 2021. Alongside with this, the Commission also issued Examination Advisory No. 06, s. 2020 on June 17, 2020 informing all interested applicants regarding the cancellation.

Table 27 List of Cancelled CY 2020 CSC Pen and Paper Tests/Competency

Examinations NAME OF EXAMINATION

ORIGINAL SCHEDULE

RESET SCHEDULE

1.

Career Service Examination – PPT (Professional)

March 15, 2020

2021

2.

Career Service Examination – PPT (Sub-Professional)

March 15, 2020

2021

3.

Fire Officer Examination

June 21, 2020

2021

4.

Penology Officer Examination

June 21, 2020

2021

5.

Basic Competency on Local Treasury Examination

June 21, 2020

2021

6.

Career Service Examination – PPT (Professional)

August 9, 2020

2021

7.

Career Service Examination – PPT (Sub-Professional)

August 9, 2020

2021

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Table 27 List of Cancelled CY 2020 CSC Pen and Paper Tests/Competency

Examinations (CONTINUATION) NAME OF EXAMINATION Competency

on

Local

Treasury

ORIGINAL SCHEDULE

RESET SCHEDULE

October 11, 2020

2021

8.

Intermediate Examination

9.

Pre-Employment Test

October 11, 2020

2021

10.

Promotional Test

October 11, 2020

2021

11.

Ethics-Oriented Personality Test

October 11, 2020

2021

Source of data: CSC XII

Further, on July 8, 2020, CSC issued Memorandum Circular No. 14, s. of 2020 on adopting the Interim Guidelines on Appointments and Other Human Resource Actions for the Period of State of Calamity Due to COVID-19 Pandemic for the compliance by the civil service. Said MC also imply the use of electronic means in HR management other bureaucratic processes, i.e., posting of vacancies in social media platforms and other job search engines and radio announcements, online recruitment and selection processes, interview and Human Resource Management, Promotion and Selection Board deliberations thru teleconferencing, appointment processes, among others.

Schools are encouraged to minimize faceto-face classes and instead opt for online education or hybrid engagement (modular and online).

Government transactions are being encouraged to be more interactive (online) to minimize physical contacts between the clients and frontline service providers.

On July 22, 2020, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Transportation

(DOTr), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), forged the Joint Memorandum Circular 01-2020 entitled, “Streamlined Guidelines for the Issuance of Permits, Licenses, and Certificates for the Construction of Shared Passive Telecommunications Tower Infrastructures (PTTIs)”.

The JMC is pursuant to the directives of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to curb red tape and corruption in the bureaucracy, including streamlining the processes for the issuance of permits, licenses, and clearances for the establishment of common towers for mobile network operators and independent tower companies duly registered with the DICT in order to accelerate the rollout of telecommunication infrastructure and internet service projects.

The JMC is in conjunction with the directives of Duterte during his 5th State of the Nation Address on 27 July 2020 to all relevant agencies to improve the digital infrastructure in the country; and the RA 11032 otherwise known as Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Delivery of Government Services Act of 2018 directing of the government to automate all its public transactions, particularly in the delivery of

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frontline services to the general public, a necessity especially in this time of national health emergency.

towers, telecommunications companies can now avail of the permits in less than a month through simultaneous processing of requirements and streamlined number of documentary requirements.

With the JMC, what used to be a 200-day period for securing permits for building

c)

Evidence-based Strategies

After first reporting the initial cluster in Wuhan, scientists in China swiftly isolated the virus and later shared its genetic sequence to the world for the development of diagnostic kits.

This greatly helped countries with cases having similar symptoms to identify the genome and declare the presence of the virus in the area and effected immediate isolation of the confirmed cases. As the virus continues to spread and to morph/mutate into strange genetic sequences, scientists all over the world are also on a hands-on stance to pin it down. It is an example of utilizing baseline and current data to keep track of the emerging situations in the field.

As of January 2020, only the cities of Kidapawan and Tacurong have completed the four (4) training modules on the use

b.

of CBMS App that is currently being introduced by the DILG XII for the periodic updating of LGU CBMS databases. The said two cities have already incorporated their CBMS data into their respective CDPs. The App, which can accessed/operated using android tablets, will aid local enumerators, editors and field coordinators in the data gathering (Module 1), processing and poverty mapping (Module 2), and integration of the database into the local planning process (Modules 3 and 4). The rest of Region XII LGUs have already completed Modules 1 and 2 and still need to complete the remaining two (2) modules. The funds for the training and procurement of android devices were sourced from the Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB) project of DILG XII with counterparts from concerned LGUs.

Justice and Jail Management

Sub-sector Outcome: •

Fair and swift administration of justice ensured amidst the pandemic

Strategies Among the strategies identified the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) where to decongest the jail facilities by constructing additional cells and jail buildings, and by freeing PDLs via special release orders issued by the court.

Anent this, the Supreme Court of the Philippines (SC) has partnered with Microsoft to improve the efficiency and productivity of the country’s legal proceedings Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 85

through videoconferencing hearings amidst the imposition of quarantines and in consonance with the health and safety protocols issued by the Department of Health and the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID). On 27 April 2020, the SC has issued Administrative Circular 37-2020, directing all Litigants, Judges and Court Personnel of 925 First and Second Level Courts nationwide to immediately begin virtual court hearings via Microsoft 365. After the first nine days of piloting the videoconferencing hearings, SC has announced the 4,683 PDLs were released or an equivalent of a 125% increase in daily releases.

The SC, in its guidelines issued on 20 April 2020 to decongest jails amidst COVID-19 pandemic, implore all courts in the country to conduct an inventory of their pending criminal cases and to use sound discretion to speed-up the litigation of these cases, particularly those that were delayed due to the absence of essential witness/es. The guidelines also allow the use of the electronic systems in filing complaints, petitions for bail, and submission of requirements for bail to limit physical contacts.

BJMP XII announced that at least 200 PDLs of the General Santos City District Jail (GSCDJ) were released between June-July 2020 period after they have been qualified based on the guidelines set by BJMP XII and the local courts. Aside from jail decongestion efforts, the Bureau also implements strict health protocols to keep the jail facilities in the region COVID-free. The GSCDJ has transformed two of its detention cells into isolation facilities for new jail entrants/committed PDLs and for those returning PDLs who just attended court hearings. The Jail also suspended physical visitation privileges and introduced virtual contacts or electronic “dalaw” (e-dalaw) system.

Some jail facilities have suspended jail visitation privileges of PDLs and also restricted visitors coming from religious groups, non-government organizations, foreign and local dignitaries, and other humanitarian, educational, business or political missions to prevent transmission of COVID-19 among its personnel and PDLs.

Strategies • •

Require newly endorsed PDLs to under RT-PCR test before admission to any BJMP jail facility Strengthen operations of Enhanced Justice on Wheels

c. Public Finance Sub-sector Outcome: • •

Responsive and Inclusive Monetary Sector Sustained Resilient Financial Sector Achieved

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Strategies • • • • • • • • • • •

Expedite utilization of LGU allocation from the Bayanihan Grant Identify efficiently and implement PPAs that are responsive to COVID-19 situation Comply with posting and reporting requirements as prescribed under Local Budget Circulars 125 and 126 Submit regular report on fund utilization and status of implementation of PPAs to DBM Use of full range monetary instruments and regulatory relief measures to fulfill price and financial stability objectives, Review/assess the Extension of Payment Deadlines of taxes and fees in LGUs Sustain public investment—especially inclusion of the Enhanced Build, Build, Build (BBB) program in the economic stimulus package Implement monetary policy expansion, such as lower interest rates to lure investments and to cushion any lingering effects of the pandemic on the economy Provide Loan Holidays and Credit Extension Strictly monitor and enforce tax collection for online transactions of goods and services Provide tax incentives for adopting technologies (e.g. e-payments, e-commerce)

d. Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Sub-sector Outcome: •

Impact of disasters and pandemics are mitigated to save lives and sustain the social and economic recovery towards resiliency in the new normal

Strategies 1

• • • • •

Sustain the gains achieve in the restart phase and continue the capacity and resiliency building: Conduct capacity building/trainings in handling pandemic prevention, preparedness, response and recovery towards the new normal; Institutionalize health protocols to balance economic operation in the area; Fast-track the establishment of redesigned evacuation centers to cater pandemic requirements; Prioritize long term solution that are climate smart as climate change impacts combined with COVID-19 affects the most vulnerable sector; Provide psychological support and psychosocial intervention to communities suffering from the multiple disaster impacts; Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 87

•

Conduct capacity building/trainings in handling pandemic prevention, Strengthen the promotion of community behaviors including but not limited to wearing of masks, frequent hand washing, and disinfection through massive conduct of IEC and counselling; • Harness the role of the youths, indigenous peoples, and technology in disaster preparedness, response, and resiliency; and • Encourage business sector to upgrade their funeral services; 2 Integrate new normal policies and programs in various plans • Create new growth centers to decongest crowded urban areas, answer the consumers’ needs; • Ensure availability of job opportunities, fund assistance or project packages for BP2 Program beneficiaries; • Identify and implement projects to support BP2 Program; and • Review the implementation policies on crafting the CLUPs and capacitate the LGUs to comply with the national government directives as well as in mainstreaming the holistic approach on health pandemics in disaster preparedness and contingency plans.

e. Peace, Security, Public Order and Safety Sub-sector Outcome: •

Effective and efficient administration and implementation of peace and security measures toward a healthy, terror-free, and pandemic-resilient society ensured

Strategies • •

•

•

•

Provide institutional, logistical, technological, and administrative support to peace and security personnel, most especially those deployed in the regional border control checkpoints Fully implement policies and pursue legal actions against individuals, groups, and other juridical entities that committed blatant violations, challenged the authorities, and grossly disobeyed peace and security protocols through effective case-build up mechanisms and proper legal approaches Neutralize terror groups and other lawless elements, and end all forms of insurgencies in the region through full-scale implementation of Executive Order No. 70, series of 2018 and of the Republic Act 11479, otherwise known as the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 Foster harmonious coordination process and provide a platform of convergence between and among security forces and law enforcement personnel in the local communities [e.g. creation of Joint Security Cluster composed of AFP, PNP, paramilitary (CAFGU), police auxiliary personnel (BPATs, tanods, CVOs)] to ensure uniform policies are consistently implemented in all vertical and horizontal levels of the society Institutionalize the establishment of checkpoint stations in all points of

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• •

entry and exit of SOCCSKSARGEN Region pursuant to Regional Development Council XII Resolution No. 26 series of 2019 Expedite the complete turn-over of the 63 barangays to the Regional Government of BARMM to foster efficient administration and implementation of security measures and border control policies Expand the coverage of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) through the inclusion of former combatants of the local terrorist groups (LTGs), radical Islamists groups, among others, thereby amending for this purpose Administrative Order No. 10, series of 2018

2. Economic a. Macro-economy Sub-sector Outcome: • •

Higher economic growth through sound, stable and supportive macroeconomic environment attained Consumers’ and producers’ confidence in economic activities regained

Sub-sector Strategies: • • • • • • • •

Implement well-targeted recovery programs to mitigate the impact of the pandemic Complement the emergency, cash for work and wage subsidies with skills retooling and creation of job and livelihood opportunities Provide government’s stimulus spending to aid recovery of business and displaced workers Promote e-commerce and online cashless payment schemes Promote fair and accountable tax incentive system Address potential supply bottlenecks and ensure ample and unhampered supply of commodities through the use of digital technologies Accelerate the implementation of country’s national identification system (PhilSys) in support of the Philippine’s digital economy Temporarily suspend the release of negative list of credit rating of companies/ corporations/enterprises

b. Agriculture and Fisheries Sub-sector Outcome: •

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Strategies • • • •

•

• • • • •

Support and implement the Plant, Plant, Plant Program (4Ps), the Fisheries Produce, Produce and Produce Program, and organic agriculture program.

Improve fishery production through implementation of various programs related to conservation and management of fishery resources and monitoring of enforcement of laws on Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated Fishing (IUUF).

Establish urban gardening through hydroponics/aquaponics technology and promote backyard gardening.

Patronize local products to support the local economy through the promotion and sustaining the mobile market that link farmers and fisherfolks directly to consumers and the procurement by the LGUs of local food products from farmers/fisherfolks for rationing purposes in case of disasters and calamities.

Establish cold chain/storage facilities/equipment in each province and processing plant in the region. Develop storage facilities like warehouse receipt system platforms where farmers can deliver their produce without the need to go to markets. If feasible, relocate markets to larger premises, while ensuring the appropriate infrastructure is in place to maintain quality and food safety.

Safeguard the region’s livestock industry to avoid the influx of diseases, such as: African Swine Fever, Avian Flu and the like.

Enhance food security and agricultural productivity to support the Balik Probinsya Program.

Provide farmers/fisherfolks with fast-moving interventions such as soft loans and support services.

Sustain price monitoring to enforce the price freeze and suggested retail price policies on basic food commodities.

Development and maintenance of irrigation systems and fast track the establishment and/or completion of priority irrigation and power, water impounding and rain-water collection projects in the region

c. Industry and Services Sub-sector Outcome: •

Increased Economic Growth

Strategies •

Continue MSME Capability Enhancement Training and Recovery Support through: • Conduct of series of webinars on E-commerce and Business Digitization which include among others pooling of products and selling online – linking with consolidators and capability training; • Provision of technical assistance in availing of Enterprise Rehabilitation

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• • •

Financing (ERF) Program and other potential financing support for MSME recovery; • Provision of product development intervention; • Provision of interventions for MSMEs. Provision of incentives to risk-based capital - Risk-based capital scheme is an option for the private sector to invest their money in small businesses/ affected MSMEs. Investors will be given tax incentives by the government in exchange for investing in affected MSMEs; • Establishment of Business Incubation Facility in collaboration with the academe - This is to provide start up assistance to small business, provide space, technology, until they are able to attain self-reliance and fully ready to operate; • Promote and continue the provision of financial loans for BIG investments to support the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program • Empower local industries and MSMEs to support the Balik Probinsya Program Intensify price and supply monitoring of basic necessities and prime commodities through the Local Price Coordinating Councils (LPCCs) to enforce price freeze and suggested retail prices.

Encourage financial institutions to invest in digital infrastructure and implement better cybersecurity measures and regulations for consumers and merchants/ establishments.

Promote collaboration of retail and restaurant owners with delivery service providers to help establishment owners who cannot afford to integrate delivery services in their operations, and support entry of new players in the delivery services sector.

d. Tourism Development Sub-sector Outcome: •

Tourism services improved

Strategies 1. Improved tourism operations under the new normal, which shall include: • Strict observance of the minimum health standards prescribed by both the national and local government, e.g. wearing of face masks, practicing social distancing, and checking of body temperature upon entry; • Filling up of health declaration form of guests upon check-in; • Cashless payments will be encouraged; • Reduction of room capacity for accommodation facilities • Bathroom and other bathing amenities will be regularly disinfected; • Wearing of proper PPEs by housekeeping staff; and • Decontamination Procedure of linens will be done regularly.

2. Strengthened coordination with concerned agencies, e.g. Department of Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 91

Health, and Local Government Units (LGUs) • LGUs shall strictly implement their permit system, specifically the “no accreditation, no permit to operate.”

3. Revisit and update the local tourism development plans of cities and/or provinces • Since tourism services require the interdependent coordination between travel and tourism industry players and the government, the new normal on tourism operations must be included in the local tourism development plans. This will ensure that the system of standards for tourism enterprises, heritage and environmental protection is duly reflected in a manner that encourages sustainable tourism development.

4. Formulate Standard Operational Manual incorporating the new normal • TREs must craft their respective operations manual, which shall be in accordance to their respective compliance with the new normal guidelines.

5. Promote local tourist destinations with the highest sanitary standards • The heightened need for regular sanitation or disinfection of tourism related enterprises must be the top priority, hence, provision of sanitation or disinfection devices to both clients and employees, must be strictly observed.

3. Social a. Health and Nutrition Sub-sector Outcome:

• Ensure essential quality health care services with responsive health systems and improve health indicators in accelerating human capital development amidst the COVID-19 pandemic towards the new normal.

Strategies 1. Care at all life stages guaranteed.

• Manage/Develop guidelines on accepting locally stranded individuals and returning overseas Filipino workers (LSIs/ROFs) and facilitate the smooth integration of returning residents.

• Conduct mass testing of the target vulnerable population. Real-time data of cases is very significant in decision making and crafting the right policy to address the pandemic.

• Intensify breastfeeding campaign and provide quality nutrition and health care interventions at all life stages.

• Raise public health awareness to improve health seeking behavior of the people and adherence to new normal protocol.

2. Responsive and resilient health system ensured.

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•

Ensure access to essential quality and affordable health and nutrition products and services • Encourage backyard gardens among households to promote production and food security.

• Upgrade/Rehabilitate and Equip health facilities • Improve epidemiological and surveillance capacities to include contact tracing system.

• Improve the status and supply of Human Resource for Health (HRH) and health professionals; and, encourage LGUs to hire additional medical professionals and fill-up the needed health plantilla positions.

• Intensify sanitation campaign and monitoring of compliance to Philippine National Standard for Drinking Water of 2017 and zero open defecation (ZOD) • Establish/Institutionalize the Health Care Provider Network (HCPN) with functional Local Health Board for the improvement of health system • Mapping of women and couples with unmet need for modern family planning 3. Equitable health financing sustained.

• Ensure access to essential quality and affordable health and nutrition products and services.

• Secure sustainable investment for health and nutrition and ensure efficient use of resources to include PPEs and other logistics.

• Expand health insurance coverage and improve nutrition and health packages.

4. Cross-cutting strategies.

• Strengthen leadership and management capacities, coordination and support mechanisms.

• Institute a fully integrated and interoperable health information system and database.

• Elicit multi-sector and multi-stakeholder support for nutrition and health.

• Intensify advocacy on health and nutrition and the implementation of the National Program for Family Planning (NPFP)

b. Basic Education Sub-sector Outcome: •

Human capital development accelerated, and vulnerabilities of individuals enrolled in basic education against all forms of disasters reduced

Strategies 1. Learners • Ensure a remote/contactless enrollment; • Develop curriculum that would fit in to the remaining period of classes; • Guarantee the availability and accessibility of learning resources, Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 93

especially for those in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas without internet access nor signal reception; • Ensure that all printed learning materials are distributed to learners; • Support parents and teachers in educating and guiding learners with disabilities; • Provide kindergarten learners access to a suitable alternative learning modality; and • Support parents of learners from Kindergarten to Senior High School, and those enrolled in the Alternative Learning System, in guiding or coteaching their learners.

2. Teachers • Provide support to teachers so as to enhance their capability to conduct alternative learning modalities; and • Provide teachers with timely financial support 3. Schools.

• Ensure the sufficiency of resources to develop and reproduce learning materials locally; • Provide support to private schools to ensure their capability to operate amid disasters and to adapt to the new normal; and • Manage policy innovations in schools.

4. Cross-cutting strategies.

• Ensure compliance of health and safety protocols in schools during faceto-face learning • Guarantee fast and reliable internet connection in all schools in the region • Ensure the availability of tools needed for the conduct of online distant learning • Provide mental and psychological support to teachers and learners in times of disasters • Ensure the security of online learners from phishing, hacking, and other cyber attacks • Strengthen partnership with non-government organizations, civil society organizations, private individuals/institutions, and other stakeholders • Strengthen the implementation of RA 10929, An Act Establishing the Free Internet Access Program in Public Places in the Country, and Appropriating Amount Therefor • Support the implementation of RA 11480, An Act Amending Section 3 of RA 7797, Otherwise Known as “An Act to Lengthen the School Calendar from Two Hundred (200 Days) to not more than Two Hundred Twenty (220) Class Days” • Support the legislation on the local development, printing, and distribution of textbooks • Support the Indigenous Peoples’ Education Systems Act, which aims to establish IP-centric educational systems and institutions • Support the Alternative Learning Systems Bill that aims to provide support for the expansion and strengthening of the alternative learning system in basic education, making it more responsive to the needs of youth, outof-school children, and adults. The bill will also establish the Bureau of Alternative Education, which will give primary attention on the policy, curriculum, learning program delivery, materials, assessment, support 94 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

•

•

systems, and quality assurance of the non-formal education Support the ICT in Education Bill, which will assist in the strengthening of ICT use in basic education by way of establishing computer centers in schools, conducting training for teachers, and computerization of administrative systems.

Support the Flexible Learning Systems Bill, which will provide funding and will promote flexible learning systems in schools

c. Social Protection Sub-sector Outcome: •

Food security ensured and vulnerabilities of Filipinos reduced; and Universal and transformative social protection for all achieved.

The identification of beneficiaries, and vulnerable groups and individuals continue to create problems on the delivery of services. In order to attain these outcomes, the following strategies were recommended.

• Synchronize the institutionalized RA 11055, Philippine Identification System Act (PhilSys) with the updated National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) database and create a registry of vulnerable groups and individuals, consider the integration of CBMS and other registries, if applicable; • Establish robust coordination and collaboration with stakeholders (national, LGUs, CSOs and Development Partners); • Ensure the efficient delivery of responsive social welfare development programs and interventions to qualified beneficiaries; • Design a more inclusive and rights-based social protection scheme since everyone is vulnerable to various shocks and risks

d. Labor and Employment Sub-sector Outcome: •

Improved employability, productivity and enhanced adaptability of workers through skills retooling and promotion of safe working environments.

Strategies The labor and employment sector aims to improve the employability of workers by providing opportunities for retooling their skills. The sector also needs to sustain safe work environments to enable enhanced productivity amid intensified Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 95

adoption of flexible working arrangements. In summary, the following strategies are to be pursued:.

• Enhance livelihood assistance by boosting and expanding employment facilitation services especially at the local level • Provision of skill training opportunities to IPs particularly under the agriculture sector to strengthen entrepreneurship, marketability and market participation of their produce while enhancing food security • Further advance skills development and retooling through continuing education, training, and digital learning • Ensure safety and health in the workplace through strengthened measures on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) and mental health amid intensified adoption of flexible working arrangements.

e. Urban and Housing Development Sub-sector Outcome: •

Safe, Decent, and Secure Communities Built following the standards in the “New Normal” State

Strategies The following are the strategies developed to address the issues brought by the pandemic in SOCCSKSARGEN Region so that families especially the marginalized sector who has the least capacity for survival in this dire time could still thrive.

• Expedite the delivery of housing services especially for those affected by calamities and other recent disasters.

• Strict implementation of the DHSUD Department Order No. 2020-05.

• Strengthen partnership with local government units, contractors/home developers and local communities in the delivery of housing projects/ assistance.

• Improve housing affordability and develop housing design that would conform to the protocols or standards in addressing COVID-19 pandemic and other infectious contagious diseases.

• Fast-track the implementation of the Resettlement Emergency Assistance Program (REAP).

• Provide housing assistance to the beneficiaries of the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program that would conform to the standards under the new normal state and enforce strict compliance with building and design standards that consider public health goals.

• Inventory of government-owned lands purposely for socialized housing.

• Upscale high-density housing programs in Highly Urbanized Communities (HUCs) • Increase national funding for housing • Mainstream local shelter planning that promotes public health goals in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) 96 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

4. Technological Sub-sector Outcome: •

Technology adoption promoted and accelerated, and innovation stimulated

STI is expected to contribute to the achievement of the overall PDP goal of “Healthy and Resilient Philippines” by increasing the country’s potential growth.

This will be done by scaling-up technology adoption and stimulating innovation.

Increasing STI utilization in the agriculture, industry, and services sectors, as well as investments in technology-based start-ups, enterprises and spin-offs, will result in the scaling up of technology adoption. On the other hand, enhancing the creative capacity for knowledge and technology generation, acquisition and adoption, and strengthening open collaboration among actors in the STI ecosystem will stimulate innovation

Sub-sector Outcome 1: •

STI Utilization in the agriculture, industry and services sectors increased

Strategies •

Intensify the roll out of existing government approved technologies that can be used in this time of the pandemic.

Contact tracing systems such as FASSTER, TanodCOVID, Staysafe.ph and SC-CCTS, if fully utilized, can help the government respond quickly and make informed and timely decisions to keep the people safe from the pandemic. DOST-approved •

technologies such as ongoing applied science research on alternative materials for PPEs and technologies for food processing to prolong the shelf-life of food products should be scaled up for the benefit of the public.

Intensify research and development (R&D) activities on health-related technologies and innovations.

R&D funding for the development of test kits, medical equipment, vaccines (e.g., COVID-19 vaccine) and medicine should be prioritized. The government must actively use the Negosyo Centers, entrepreneurial organizations, and state universities and colleges (SUCs) and HEIs

offering business/entrepreneurial courses as venues to introduce research outputs of the government and the academe that are ready for adoption. (Source: NEDA 2018 SER – Chapter 14)

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•

Provide technology support mechanisms to farmers and fisher folks in the agriculture and fishery sectors.

Enhance their productivity and efficiency thereby attaining food sufficiency in the region. Promote the online market to

help farmers and fisherfolks enhance the marketing of their produce under the new normal condition.

Sub-sector Outcome 2: •

Investments in STI-based start-ups, enterprises and spin-offs increased

Strategies •

Expand the implementation of the Science for Change Program (S4CP) to advance the proliferation of demand-driven innovation activities that will respond to the demand of the makers and users of technologies.

The S4CP seeks to establish and expand STI programs along with the accelerated R&D thrusts under NICER and RDLead.

It is also expected to ramp up industrial •

competitiveness through the CRADLE and Business Innovation through S&T (BIST) Programs

Provide technology support mechanisms to expand online presence of MSMEs in the region.

Due to pandemic, business transactions are being done online such as online retail, online banking, online medical consultations, and digital payments. There are existing platforms where MSMEs can use to sell products online such as

the OneSTore developed by DOST. It is an e-commerce web application which operates nationwide and caters primarily to Philippine consumers. It helps the DOSTassisted MSMEs widen the scope of their target market.

Sub-sector Outcome 3: •

Creative capacity for knowledge and technology generation, acquisition and adoption enhanced

Strategies •

Accelerate efforts to prepare for the emerging Fourth Industrial Revolution (FIRe) landscape.

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In response to the emerging FIRe landscape, the government should identify the priority frontier technologies and formulate the roadmaps on how to harness these •

Provide Science and Technology (S&T) scholarship programs

S&T scholarship programs will be strengthened to encourage students to pursue STEAM. The country should be able to create and maintain a critical mass •

introduction of massive online open courses, and other opportunities for open online education.

Strengthen digital infrastructure and regulation of digital transactions

A reliable digital infrastructure system and strong cyber security protection are needed •

of researchers, scientists, and engineers necessary to raise the quality of products and services in the market. (Source: NEDA 2018 SER – Chapter 14)

Pursue adult learning through online and/or blended learning

Promote an ecosystem for digital technology in education, such as the development of online and blended learning, the •

technologies. The changing/updating of the STEM curriculum must be implemented to respond to the needs of the FIRe. (Source: NEDA 2018 SER – Chapter 14)

to cope up with the increasing demand in the use of digital technology.

Intensify the promotion of advocacy activities of the government on STI.

The government should pursue more promotions and advocacy activities for STI by organizing regular fora, fairs, and exhibits which feature the innovation activities and

outputs of the government, primary and secondary schools, SUCs/HEIs. (Source: NEDA 2017 SER – Chapter 14)

Sub-sector Outcome 4: •

Open collaboration among actors in the STI ecosystem strengthened

Strategies •

Pursue collaboration between and among government, industry and academe.

Problems in collaborative linkages among the government, academe, and industries still

exist. The difficulty in finding cooperation partners for innovation activities is cited Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 99

among the barriers to innovation. Limited linkage between industry and academe in product development, incubation facilities, and R&D activities is also emphasized. This

is one of the reasons why many R&D outputs of the academe are not market oriented.

(Source: NEDA 2017 SER – Chapter 14)

5. Infrastructure a. Transport Development Sub-sector Outcome: •

Efficient and effective infrastructure transport facilities and services provided.

a.1 Road-based Transport

Strategies • • • • •

• • • •

Provide assistance like subsidies for road-based public transport and transport franchise operators due to reduced passenger capacity per trip; Pursue high quality public transport modes and resume road-based public transport operations in a progressive and safe manner; Provide bicycle lanes and adequate walkway spaces along major thoroughfares in highly urbanized and urbanizing cities to allow safer travel between workplaces, schools, and healthcare while maintaining physical distancing; Adopt, promote and strictly enforce/observe the protocols/policies/guidelines under the “new normal” in the operation of road-based public transport services and construction of road projects; Establish an effective and harmonized contact tracing system for all LGUs to be implemented especially in public buses, as well as terminals by requiring all passengers/commuters to present identification cards with quick response code when entering the said public land transport to prevent further transmission of COVID-19; Formulate and implement transport and traffic management plans by LGUs and improve the traffic systems of urbanized cities in the region; Improve/widen and rehabilitate deteriorated pavement of national arterial and secondary roads and bridges to accommodate the increasing volume of traffic; Install road signage and safety structures in required sections of roads, particularly along accident-prone areas, such as roundabouts and dangerous curves; Ensure unhampered delivery of construction and other infra-related supplies and equipment, and movement of personnel involved in the provision of

100 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

•

essential utilities and services (water, electricity, telecommunications/ICT, airports and seaports); and Encourage equal employment opportunities and workplace safety and health.

a.2 Airport Development

Strategies • • • • •

Adopt, promote and strictly enforce/observe the protocols/policies/guidelines under the “new normal” in the provision of air transport services; Modernize, improve, and upgrade facilities of the airports in the region to meet international standards including the preparation of detailed studies; Entry of new aviation player for more choices, cheaper fare and quality service, and additional flights in the region; Promote the airports in the region as a new business hub and alternate route; and Open additional flights to other destinations (e.g., GSC International Airport and other domestic (Clark, Panglao Bohol, Bacolod, Puerto Princesa) and international (Manado, Singapore, Hongkong) destinations.

a.3 Seaport Development

Strategies • • •

Adopt, promote and strictly enforce/observe the protocols/policies/guidelines under the “new normal” in the provision of maritime transport services; Modernize, improve, and upgrade seaport facilities in the region to meet international standards; and Intensify the security operations of the ports in the region to ensure the compliance to the minimum health protocol.

b. Water Resources Development and Management Sub-sector Outcome: • •

Adequate and effective delivery of water supply to support agricultural production, provide safe drinking water and other health and sanitation needs guaranteed; and Sanitation, drainage and flood risk management institutionalized.

b.1 Water Supply and Sanitation Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 101

Strategies • • • • • •

•

Adopt, promote and strictly enforce the protocols/policies/guidelines under the “new normal” in the construction and provision of water supply and sanitation facilities; Expand the coverage of service areas of water districts and water supply programs in the region, especially those areas with no or limited access to safe drinking water; Enjoin LGUs to install appropriate rainwater harvesting facilities; Intensify monitoring of water potability at all levels; Provide wastewater and sanitation infrastructure facilities like water treatment facilities and septage treatment plant; Expand efforts to develop more robust and sophisticated Water and Sanitation “resilience” plans which can help water utilities prepare for and mitigate a wider range of risks, including extreme climatic conditions, health threats like the COVID-19 pandemic; and Strengthen the implementation of the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM).

b.2 Flood Risk Management

Strategies • • • •

Adopt, promote and strictly enforce the protocols/policies/guidelines under the “new normal” in the construction and provision of flood control and drainage projects; Enjoin LGUs across levels to formulate flood risk and drainage master plans; Ensure the implementation of critical flood control projects identified in the Mindanao River Basin Integrated Management and Development Master Plan; and Adopt a ridge-to-reef approach in flood risk and management.

c. Electric Power Supply Development and Management Outcome: •

Adequate, stable and reliable electric power supply ensured

While the region is battling the pandemic and its effects to the economy, efficient and effective management of power generation and transmission, including appropriate conservation program implementation at the demand-side are 102 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

deemed necessary in the provision of adequate, stable and reliable power supply.

This outcome shall be achieved through the following strategies:

Strategies • •

• •

•

• • • •

•

Adopt, promote and strictly enforce/observe the protocols/policies/guidelines under the “new normal” in the construction, provision and maintenance of electric power supply facilities; Institutionalize efficient and effective management and maintenance of power generating plants and transmission facilities, including appropriate policies and optimal and responsive development plans toward an adequate, stable and reliable power supply; Strengthen distribution system planning capabilities of power distribution utilities (DUs) for better demand and supply forecasting and acquiring enough power supply contracts to meet the day to day power demand; Introduce resiliency policies for power generating facilities, and transmission/ distribution networks and facilities to respond to natural calamities or unforeseen circumstances such as generation to generation contracting and moratorium on inflexible generation; Strengthen collaboration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), energy sector agencies, independent power producers (IPPs) and NGCP for the security of the power generating facilities, and transmission/distribution networks and facilities; Provide access to electric power supply to all households in all areas of the Region including off-grid areas; Prioritize the completion of the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project to increase the reliability of the Mindanao power systems; Establish the commercial operation of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) Mindanao; Accelerate the positioning of Renewable Energy (RE) by creating conducive business environment for RE like the provision of incentives and easing the business permit requirements, and promoting and enhancing research and development for RE; and Promote energy efficiency and conservation (EEC) programs and campaigns such as the use of LED lights, installation of solar panels on the rooftops of government buildings, and among others.

d.

ICT/Digital Infrastructure Development and Management

Sub-sector Outcome: • •

Universal access to quality, affordable, reliable and secure Information and Communications Technology (ICT) enabled services ensured One Digitized Government - One Nation established Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 103

Strategies • •

•

•

• • • • •

Adopt, promote and strictly enforce/observe the protocols/policies/guidelines under the “new normal” in the construction, provision and maintenance of ICT facilities; Utilize electronic payments and other digital platforms of government and private sector transactions such as the adoption of the Electronic Business Permits and Licensing System (eBPLS) which aims to shorten the business processing time in compliance with the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018; Provide fast, reliable and efficient mobile and broadband connectivity especially in the rural areas, particularly on the following: • Establishment of cell sites in areas with poor or no Cellular Mobile Telephone System (CMTS) coverage, and in areas that have no broadband connections to facilitate integration of the region through digital infostructure; and • Improvement of existing TelCo services, and fast-track the roll-out activities for the operationalization of the third TelCo that will enable more competition which will result to faster and affordable internet connectivity; Institutionalize key ICT-related systems, tools and applications to improve the delivery of government services, particularly on the following: • Issuance of National ID system to provide valid proof of identity, simplify public and private transactions, improve the delivery of government services, enhance administrative governance, reduce corruption, strengthen financial inclusion, and promote ease of doing business; • Utilization of digital signatures (Public Key Infrastructure/PKI) in the government and private sector transactions; • Establishment of Government Emergency Communications System (GECS) to have one frequency in order to cascade timely, accurate and reliable information in times of disasters; and • Application of ICT tools and applications in the fields of education, public health and safety, revenue generation and socio-civic purposes; Create appropriate bodies in the development of ICT in the community such as LGU ICT Councils; Prioritize the improvement of signal and connectivity for major government facilities; Capacitate stakeholders and promote ICT-enabled jobs as a high value economic opportunity in rural communities; Develop a program and implementation mechanism to ensure that TV frequencies reverted back to the government are fully utilized to provide uninterrupted quality education in the shift to e-learning; and Ensure the full implementation of existing ICT-related laws, policies and plans in the country such as the following: • Republic Act No. 10929, An Act Establishing the Free Internet Access Program in Public Places in the Country and Appropriating Funds therefor; • National Broadband Plan (NBP) that will provide necessary policy, regulatory and info-structure interventions to ensure the delivery of universal, fast, reliable, affordable broadband internet services all over the

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• •

country, particularly in far-flung or remote areas; Common and Shared Infrastructure (Common Tower Policy) that aims to accelerate the build-up of cellular tower in the country to increase the capacity and coverage of the telecommunications services; and Public Education Network (PEN) to connect all public schools and the Department of Education (DepEd) offices nationwide.

6. Legal Sub-sector Outcome: •

Legal issuances among and between the different sectors from the national, regional and local levels harmonized

Strategies To shepherd the realization of the Legal sector outcome, the following strategies shall be implemented.

• Ensure consistency and compliance of legal issuances of government agencies and LGUs with the existing national and local laws and policies • Enact local ordinances for new national laws on the new normal

7. Environment Sub-sector Outcome: •

Clean and Healthy Environment Ensured

Strategies •

Online submission of reports pertaining to environmental compliance by different stakeholders

Online platform for submission of reports from LGUs, industries and other concerned entities. This will require less personal

•

contact and is expected to be more efficient in terms of data collection and gathering of information from the field.

Strengthen implementation of RA 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 105

Enjoin all LGUs in the region to update and/or complete their application for approval of their respective Solid Waste Management Plans (SWMPs). Constantly, •

Intensify reinforcement and enhancement of environmental practices in Mining and Quarrying such as MFPs and NGPs

In order to maintain increased carbon sink •

and preservation of watershed areas.

Undertake real-time sampling of Air Quality Index

Fast-track the conversion of the two (2) remaining stations into real time sampling stations to maintain frequency of data •

monitor compliance of LGUs in relation to their preparation and/or updating of their respective SWMPs.

collection even in the midst of pandemic or disaster.

Re-evaluate the Mining Forest Programs (MFP) and National Greening Programs (NGPs)

Revisiting the aforementioned programs for possible conversion of agroforests and serve

as additional food sources for host and neighboring communities.

Priority Legislative Agenda 1. Political a.

Governance and Institutions Development

a.1 National •

Passage of an Act requiring transactions of government agencies and entities be done via electronic/automated method (e-government)

B. Public Finance b.1 National: 106 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

• • • •

Passage of the Philippine Program for Recovery with Equity and Solidarity (PH-PROGRESO) Stimulus Package Passage of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Bill Passage of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2) An Act Providing a Five-Year Tax Incentives for Pharmaceutical Companies that Donated Medicines, Vaccines, Medical Supplies and Equipment, among others, in times of National Health Emergencies

b.2 Local: •

Ordinance for the Supplemental Budget on COVID-19 interventions

b. Disaster Risk Reduction and Management c.1 National • •

An Act Establishing Local (LGU-based) Health Emergency Isolation Facility in Every Municipality/City, and Providing Funds Therefor An Act Establishing the Department of Disaster and Resilience and Providing Fund Therefor

c.2 Local • •

Ordinances strengthening LGUs’ (provincial, city/municipal, and barangay) preparedness and response to public health emergencies Ordinances establishing Local (LGU-based) Health Emergency Isolation Facility in Every Municipality/City, and Providing Funds Therefor

2. Economic a. Macro-economy a.1 National • •

Passage of Philippine Program for Recovery with Equity and Solidarity (PHPROGRESO) Stimulus Package Passage of Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Bill Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 107

b. Agriculture and Fisheries b.1 Local •

Ordinances creating local agri- and food processing centers/business hubs (to encourage the program on Balik Probinsiya, Bagong Pag-asa Program and to shorten the market chain).

Ordinances adopting urban gardening or vertical gardening in urban establishments and backyard/community gardening in the rural areas.

•

c. Industry and Services c.1 National •

Amend the Geeral Policies of the Investment Priorities Plan to support registered projects (Article 1174 of the Civil Code of the Philippines) to include activities critical for the supply of essential goods, construction, and/or rehabilitation of health-related facilities.

Support the passage of the Internet Transactions Bill (House Bill 6122), which seeks to strengthen the protection of personal data and consumers in online payments and transactions.

•

d.

Tourism Development

d.1 National • •

Amend Republic Act No. 9593 otherwise known as The Tourism Act of 2009; and Amend the accreditation standards for all tourism enterprises (primary and secondary tourism enterprises) and incorporate new normal measures relating to sanitation, disinfection, promotion of proper hygiene, and responsible information sharing. Further, implementation of health and safety plans for employees of all tourism enterprises should be mandatory, and penalty for violation thereof should be provided.

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a.1 National • •

•

•

• •

•

• •

An Act on Health Facilities and Services Regulation to ensure that licensing standards are responsive to the needs of the health systems.

An Act on DOH Hospital Bed Capacity and Service Capability Rationalization.

Key features of the proposed measure are: a) DOH to adjust and approve authorized bed capacities and corresponding service capabilities of its retained hospitals; and b) adjustment in bed capacity and service capability should be in accordance with the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan.

An Act on Drugs and Medicines Price Regulation (Amending Republic Act 9502 or the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008). The features of the proposed measure includes: Creation of the Drugs and Medicines Price Regulation Board for regulation of medicine prices; Display of prices fixed and approved by the Board; Provide VAT exemption to all essential ethical medicines; Prescribe in generic terminology without any specific brand; and Designate Philippine Pharma Procurement, Incorporated as DOH/PhilHealth’s national central procurement agency for drugs, medicines and medical supplies An Act on Pandemic Preparedness and Health Emergency Act. The proposed bill seeks to: strengthen the national and local response and preparedness during health emergencies (e.g. pandemic, epidemic); institutionalize national and local/regional CDC; and establish medical reserve corps for disasters and health emergencies; and providing social assistance (i.e. social amelioration) during pandemics.

An Act on Philippine E-health/Telehealth System and Services. It Seeks to establish a national e-Health System that will direct, institutionalize and regulate the practice of eHealth in the country Amendment of the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers Act. Aims to provide appropriate benefits to public health workers across LGUs, regardless of LGU income classification, to promote equity in benefits/incentives received, among others.

An Act Strengthening the Local Nutrition Program through the Creation of Plantilla Nutrition Action Officer position. It Seeks to create plantilla for nutrition action officer (NAO) to ensure that the LGU nutrition policies and programs and national laws on nutrition are executed to promote good nutrition of the people Amendment of the law on the Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) Program in order to upgrade the qualifications standards, incentives and benefits and ensure security of tenure of BNS An Act on Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy. Aims to provide a national framework for inter-agency and inter-sectoral collaboration addressing the various health, cultural, socio-economic, and institutional determinants of teenage pregnancy.

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•

Ordinances for Local government units to undertake rapid antibody-based test (RAT) as a complementary measure in targeting individuals for confirmatory test through reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and requesting the private sector and concerned entities to support the same.

Ordinances to support the Demographic vulnerability Assessment project at the LGU level.

Ordinances on the Full implementation of EO 12 – Zero unmet need for modern family planning Ordinances to Implement the National Family Planning Program Ordinances to Implement Republic Act 11123 otherwise known as the Universal Health Care Law.

• • • •

b.

Basic Education

b.1 National •

•

An Act Amending Republic Act 8545, or the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE), to extend government assistance to private schools from Kindergarten to Grade 6 learners, and the Teachers’ Salary Subsidy (TSS) to Elementary and SHS teachers; and An Act Amending the Special Education Fund (SEF) provisions in the Local Government Code which aims, among others, to qualify and restrict the list of eligible expenses that are chargeable to SEF, and reinforce the position of DepEd in the local school board (LSB), particularly in decision-making

c.

Social Protection

To add additional strength to social protection of the region, the government needs to approve the following legislative agenda to safeguard the frontliners, OFWs and other vulnerable groups and individuals and also to fund the COVID-19 testing and contact tracing.

c.1 National • • •

Passage of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2); An Act creating the Department of Filipino Overseas and Foreign Employment; Passage of the Philippine Program for Recovery with Equity and Solidarity (PH-PROGRESO)

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•

Resolution/Ordinance supporting the Relief Agad app by DICT which was developed by Developers Connect Philippines (DEVCON) to lessen the manual encoding of SAP forms by the local government units.

d. Labor and Employment Consistent with the direction of the country’s development plan, the following are proposed laws/amendments to laws and support to existing laws that seek to

d.1 National • House Bill No. 7028 (National Unemployment Insurance Program).

Provide all workers with assistance in the event of job loss. Support displaced workers during job search. A whole-of-nation approach, including risksharing among workers with different employment status and a pro-active role of government.

• Productivity Incentive Bill. In order to encourage enterprises to adopt

productivity improvement and gainsharing schemes, RA 6971 or the Productivity Incentives Act should be amended to liberalize its restrictive provisions and to accelerate the adoption of productivity improvement programs at the workplace by making establishment of productivity incentives committees mandatory in all private business enterprises; reiterating that gainsharing shall be contingent on gains from productivity improvement; and easing the requirements for availing tax incentives by business enterprises for granting productivity incentives and grants to employees and workers.

• Amendments to the Labor Code. Amendment to the five-day work week prescribed by the Labor Code would need to be amended, accompanied by more specific guidelines on the implementation of alternative work arrangements for both the private and public sector.

Creation of a legal framework on part-time work to increase flexibility for employers while integrating workers’ protection needs to be established under the law.

• Amendments to the Magna Carta of Public Health Workers. Equitable hazard allowance of public health workers across salary grades needs to be pursued.

• Amendments to the Guidelines and Benefits of Employees Compensation Program. To include compensations for health-related risks at work.

• Amendment to the Apprenticeship Law. In order to encourage enterprises

to participate in the implementation of apprenticeship programs, issues in its implementation need to be resolved. Specifically, EO 111, series of 1986 setting the maximum duration of apprenticeship programs must be repealed.

Training duration must depend on the complexity of the skills to be learned.

• Review of RA 11230: An Act Instituting a Philippine Labor Force Competencies Competitiveness Program And Free Access To TechnicalVocational Education And Training (TVET), And Appropriating Funds Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 111

Therefore. Strengthen the support to free access to tech-voc education.

• Executive Order No. 70: Institutionalizing The Whole-Of-Nation Approach In Attaining Inclusive And Sustainable Peace, Creating A National Task Force To End Local Communist Armed Conflict, And Directing The Adoption Of A National Peace Framework. Enabling law to strengthen support to peace and order efforts by creating opportunities for sustainable growth and development in conflict affected areas through multi-stakeholder collaboration in skills development, education, health and nutrition, agriculture and infrastructure development among others

e. Urban and Housing Development e.1 National • Passage of the National Strategic Plan for Accessible and Affordable Housing for all Filipinos. The National Strategic Plan for Accessible and

Affordable Housing for all Filipinos is intended to provide housing assistance to all especially to the marginalized members of the society. This will serve as a framework in identifying and prioritizing housing programs and projects in the region and in the entire country to ensure that the homeless and informal settlers/displaced families - those who need it the most - will be provided with safe, affordable and resilient housing to protect them from any form of danger.

• Passage of the National Land Use Act (NaLUA). The proposed NaLUA is one of the government’s priority legislations. It aims to resolve land use conflict, mandates the formulation of land use plans at the national and local levels, and integrates and monitors developments on land use. The enactment of this law will enable proper and sustainable utilization of lands in the region and will help address the underlying problems in terms of housing provision.

• Passage of the National Housing Development, Production and Financing (NHDPF) Bill. The bill aims to significantly reduce the housing

backlogs through continuous provision of funding support to implement the major components of the National Housing Development and Production Program. This shall help generate and mobilize funds for housing purposes of homeless and underprivileged Filipino families ensure provision of support mechanism/subsidy program to improve access to variety of housing options, guarantee the development of strong, sustainable, accessible and affordable housing finance system, and increase housing production through public and private sector partnership and participation.

• Passage of the Rental Housing Subsidy Program Bill. This law shall provide a just, equitable, innovative and inclusive urban development to Filipino people especially the underprivileged with access to basic social services, livelihood and employment. This shall also protect the poor families from immediate eviction, demolition or dislocation due to natural or manmade disasters and establishment of government projects through provision of various options on interim housing.

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• An Act on the Institutionalization of Local Housing Board. Aims to ensure full cascading of government housing policies and programs to the local government and the sustained implementation of national and local housing programs.

4. Technological 4.1 National • An Act Establishing a Philippine Virology Science and Technology Institute. To establish a Research Institute that delves into the study of

• •

•

•

viruses of the field of virology. The country needs diagnostics to detect and limit the spread of the existing viruses; vaccines to provide long-term protection; treatments to save lives in the shorter term, and social science to understand their behavioral and societal implications.

Passage of the Philippine Atomic Regulation Bill. The bill aims to create an independent regulator that will decide on issues affecting public health and safety, protection of the environment and nuclear security and safeguards.

An Act Establishing a Provincial Science and Technology Office. The proposed measure seeks to strengthen the existing Provincial Centers for Science and Technology (PSTCs) under RA 6959 by converting them into an Office so that the development and transfer of technologies in the rural areas can be vigorously pursued and implemented.

Science for Change (S4C) Act. The act aims to achieve a higher standard of science and technology (S&T), by prescribing the basic policy requirements for the promotion of S&T and comprehensively and systematically promoting policies for the progress for S&T. It also aims to expand various S&T programs of the DOST (e.g. R&D programs, technology business incubation, foreign scholarships) and prescribes the R&D areas to be considered under the Science for Change Program. The bill also seeks to require NGAs, LGUs and SUCs to adapt publicly funded and generated technologies whenever feasible and practicable.

Passage of the eHealth System and Services Bill. The bill aims to establish, institutionalize and regulate a coherent, coordinated and collaborative National eHealth System, guided by a national policy and strategic framework.

5. Infrastructure In support to the strategies identified that would facilitate the region’s adaptation to a new normal state, appropriate legislative agenda and policy interventions shall be pushed to provide an enabling environment for the attainment of the Infrastructure Sector outcomes, viz: Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 113

a. Transport Development a.1 Road-based Transport a.1.1 Local • • •

Pass ordinances creating Local Transportation Sanitation Centers to administer the sanitation and disinfection of public utility vehicles every after use and prior to next dispatching; Pass ordinances creating Contact Tracing System, establishing its protocols, and appropriating funds thereof; and Pass ordinances and implementing guidelines on the following: (1) Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) ordinance; (2) tricycle zoning; and (3) parking laws and regulations.

a.2 Airport Development a.2.1 National •

Passage of House Bill on the Creation of an Authority to Administer and Operate the General Santos International Airport and Appropriating Funds therefor.

b.

Water Resources Development and Management

b.1 National •

Creation of the Department of Water to oversee the integrated implementation of the Philippine Water Supply and Sanitation Master Plan.

c. Electric Power Supply Development and Management c.1 National • •

Review/issue new policies that would encourage the conduct of Research and Development (R&D) and facilitate the entry of new emerging technologies for power generation; and Formulate policies on the improvement of Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) design and the new market management system (NMMS).

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c.2 Local •

Ordinance providing incentives to renewable energy projects such as easing the business permit requirements, and among others.

d. ICT/Digital Infrastructure Development and Management d.1 National •

•

Review and amend RA 7925, “An Act to Promote and Govern the Development of Philippine Telecommunications and the Delivery of Public Telecommunications Services” to respond better and adapt to the characteristics of the new normal; and Formulate a policy/congressional law/franchise to tap the broadband connection of the BIMP-EAGA-Rink to increase the broadband speed in the region and the country as a whole.

6. Legal 6.1 Local • Adoption and strict implementation of regional policies relative to COVID19 in the local setting including but not limited to: • • •

Requiring disembarkation card from the travelers/passengers of the commercial flights/transportation to form part of their travel documents; Ordinances enjoining business facilities to implement prevention protocols to mitigate the spread of COVID19; and Ordinances requiring the accommodation facilities to secure a Certificate to Operate from the LGUs before the restart of their business operations to ensure compliance with the health standards and the safety of the clients.

7. Environment 7.1 National •

Amend Executive Order No. 79 and allow issuance of Mineral Production Sharing Agreements (MPSA) in the country to spur economic recovery and increase foreign investment exploration projects Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 115

7.2 Local •

Ordinances enjoining all LGUs in the region to update and/or complete their application for approval of their respective Solid Waste Management Plans to strengthen implementation of RA 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act)

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Part 4

PLAN IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING A. Plan Implementation Approach The SOCCSKSARGEN Regional Recovery Plan (RRP) Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency 2021-2022 will operationalize the Political - Economic - Social - Technological - Infrastructure - Legal - Environmental (PESTILE) strategies in order to facilitate the transition and the people, their way of life, the systems operated by public institutions and private entities and socio-economic activities will swiftly adapt to the new normal. Through the RaRP, concerned government agencies will set the necessary policy and regulatory environment and provide public goods and services by implementing PAPs towards the goal of leaving no one behind in rebuilding forward better and resilient communities and economy against the threat of the pandemic towards a Matatag, Maginhawa at Panatag na Buhay Para sa Lahat.

The effective implementation of the RaRP demands efficient coordination among government agencies at regional level, the private sector, civil society, and other development stakeholders. For the planning period of the RaRP which is 20212022, the efficiency and effectiveness of the multi-sectoral strategies, PAPs, and priority legislative agenda contained in the different chapters will be monitored.

Efficiency will be determined in terms of how the activities of all actors in the public and private sectors were directed by the overall and sectoral outcomes as contained in the plan framework. Effectiveness will be assessed in terms of the extent to which the people, their way of living, the public institutions and private enterprises, and the most vulnerable sectors have adapted to the new normal.

Volume 2 RaRP covers the second phase of the RRP which shall concretize the strategies post-lockdown period. This will be undertaken through the implementation of the re-classified PAPs that passed through a reprioritization process done by the RLAs/SUCs/GOCCs/NGIs. The re-prioritized PPAs for CY 2021 will build on the interventions implemented in Phase I and ensure that recovery and rehabilitation efforts are sustained and established.

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and rehabilitation efforts. The strategies, as well as the newly enacted laws, regulations and policies would serve as the anchor of long-term PAPs to bolster the resiliency of Region XII under the new normal condition. This phase is also the bridge to the succeeding administration when President Rodrigo Duterte ends his term on 30 June 2022.

B. Monitoring Mechanism and Process The Regional Project Monitoring and Evaluation System (RPMES) is the mechanism and process for Volume 2: RaRP. The overall objective is to facilitate project implementation, and devolve project facilitation, problem–solving, monitoring and evaluation of the National Government to the regional, provincial/ city and municipal levels. Based on EO 376 s. 89, as amended by EO 93 s. 93, the RPMES was established to: • • •

Provide scheme for M&E of projects at the national, regional, provincial/city and municipal levels with participation of LGUs and NGOs; Facilitate generation of information on the overall status of project implementation at each level; and Detect problems that impede implementation and undertake remedial actions at the level nearest the project sites, and at the earliest time possible.

The effective implementation of the SOCCSKSARGEN Regional Recovery Plan (RRP) calls for efficient coordination among government agencies at all levels, the private sector, civil society, and development partners. During the implementation period, the efficiency and effectiveness of the various strategies and programs discussed throughout the plan will be monitored. Efficiency will be determined in terms of how development activities have been guided by the intended outcomes. Effectiveness will be evaluated in terms of the extent to which the various strategies and programs have addressed the COVID-19 Pandemic, and the quality of life of Filipinos, especially the poor and marginalized, has improved and adapted to the “new normal”. Figure __ describes the structure for the vertical and horizontal linkages for efficient coordination of various entities involved in the monitoring of the SOCCSKSARGEN RRP.

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Figure 14

Monitoring Structure for the Implementation of SOCCSKSARGEN RRP: Volume 2 (RaRP)

Implementing Agencies and LGUs in the region shall submit monthly accomplishment reports in the implementation of Programs, Projects and Activities to the Secretariat of the Regional Economy Response Cluster (NEDA XII) to monitor their progress and contribution in the attainment of the intended outcomes and/or results stipulated in the RERP, using Annex B and C, for agency and LGU, respectively. Data/information on the PPAs description, location, implementation period, number and type of beneficiaries’ benefitted, budget allocated and source of funds, physical accomplishment, issues/concerns encountered, and recommendations shall be reported and gathered to ensure that PPAs are being implemented and will be completed as planned.

The Regional Economy Response Cluster (ERC), during its regular meetings, shall discuss and deliberate the monthly accomplishment reports of implementing agencies and LGUs. Recommendations and issues/concerns needing actions, including those that could not be resolved at the Regional ERC level, shall be referred to the Regional Task Force on COVID-19. These recommendations and issues/concerns may also be referred to the Regional Development Council (RDC) Sectoral Committees and the Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC), and/or concerned Provincial/City Task Force on COVID-19, for appropriate action.

On the other hand, recommendations and issues/concerns needing actions at the national level shall be referred to the NDRRMC Response Clusters for COVID-19.

At the local level, monitoring will be undertaken in coordination with the Provincial/ City Committees/TWGs on COVID-19. The Secretariat of Regional ERC (NEDA XII) shall closely coordinate with these Local Committees/TWGs on COVID-19 to validate the implementation of PAPs. The Results Matrix (RM), which contains the Outcome Indicators, will be tracked annually through the Regional Development Report (RDR) based on the submission of Implementing Agency/LGU annual accomplishment report with RM. Annexes 1 and 2 are the output and outcome forms to be used for the purpose.

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Part 5

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS PLAN The Communication Plan (ComPlan) intends to be a guide to duty-bearers on the communication strategies in the implementation of the Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan. It contains the structure, responsible centers, messaging, and content to effectively advocate the plan to the general public. This will be done by connecting with and engaging all sectors and stakeholder groups to generate support and cooperation for the success of the plan.

A. Objectives The ComPlan aims to achieve the following: • Build public awareness of the Regional Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan; • Emphasize shared goals/development aspirations; • Gain support for the attainment of plan goals and objectives; • Promote collective action among stakeholders; and • Communicate/feedback challenges, outputs and outcomes of the plan to stakeholders.

B. Structure and Responsible Centers The communication and engagements on the dissemination and information education of this plan shall be led by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) XII. This is in recognition of its mandate of disseminating information about government programs, projects, and services to the public, with the ultimate aim of seeing improved quality of lives of Filipinos. The PIA XII shall mobilize Volume 2: Rehabilitation and Resiliency Plan | 125

the Information Coordinating Network (ICON) 12, the organization of information officers of the SOCCSKSARGEN, to advocate the RaRP. In addition, agencies and entities that will work with PIA XII in its advocacy are: • Region XII Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (RIATF-EID); • National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) XII; • Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) XII; • Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) XII; • Philippine National Police Regional Office (PRO) XII; • Armed Forces of the Philippines; and • the Local Government Units.

To ensure timely release of authoritative information, the said agencies/entities shall assign their information officers and social media administrators, or designate competent resource persons to coordinate with stakeholders. The said persons should be readily available for interviews and other media briefings.

Also, communicating the plan would take a whole-of-nation approach. With this, PIA XII shall engage the different private media organizations in the dissemination of the RaRP.

C. Platform In order to achieve the objectives of the ComPlan, various platforms shall be used.

These media platforms to be utilized include the following:

1.

Radio and Television

For the region, these platforms remain to be the widely used and readily available medium of communication. In fact, the region has 92 radio stations, and 40 local TV networks.

On one hand, AM stations that usually carry news, commentaries, and public affairs, send radio waves far and wide, penetrating even areas without electricity.

On the other hand, FM stations have adapted a similar programming to that of AM, on top of its music and entertainment field.

2.

Text and Call Hotlines and Other Feedback Mechanisms

Text messages or short message service (SMS) and calls remain to be very accessible mediums at this time. In the entire Philippines, as of 2019, there are a total of 74 million smartphone users. In Region XII, per NTC data, 93.2% of all the barangays have Cellular Mobile Telephone System (CMTS) coverage or have cell phone signals for text and call. This makes text hotlines a highly available means for the general public to provide feedback, and on the other side of the 126 | SOCCSKSARGEN Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan 2020-2022

line, for the government to monitor the implementation of the plans at the ground level. This will help ensure that the goals of objectives of the Regional Recovery Plan are met. Other feedback mechanisms will also be explored, especially while technological advancement continues.

3.

Internet and Social Media

Internet and social media shall also be used to relay regular updates. This will be done through the official websites and social media accounts of agencies.

4. Print For far-flung areas, which do not have internet connectivity, information, education, and information, education, and communication (IEC) materials such as leaflets and briefers will be reproduced and distributed, preferably in Filipino or local translation. The continuing advocacy about the RaRP and strategies therein will also be displayed in infographic banners and tarpaulins in strategic locations at the barangays.

To provide better appreciation of the responsible centers and communication platform, below is a visual presentation.

Figure15

RaRP Platform and Responsible Centers

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D. Content and Messaging Delivering the correct message effectively is essential. Hence, there should be uniformity and consistency in content and messaging.

The message of the RaRP would be in Filipino or in the local language to facilitate direct delivery and easier understanding of the plan to the targeted audience.

Thus, the use of non-technical language/layman’s terms in the content will be adopted as a strategy. In addition to that, the content would build on the common understanding of the people on the new normal or by alluding to things that would be widely comprehensible by the masses.

To ensure that the plan will create an immediate recall by the general public, a common advocacy brand of the contents and messaging shall be made. PIA XII, in partnership with ICON-12, shall conduct capability development training to the different public information officers and social media administrators of agencies and LGUs in the region.

Furthermore, the key findings/results/output of the plan’s monitoring should also be communicated to the public. This is in the hope of facilitating communal monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the plans. This will also enforce transparency and assist in gaining the trust of the people.

E. Strategy • Ensure updated data on audience share or the number/percentage of viewers/listeners/readers for each media platform Target audiences, like for radio and TV shall be profiled and identified. Targetspecific messaging is vital, especially during crisis and emergency situations.

Survey outfits can be tapped to provide figures, demographics, and other pertinent data to help in the identification of target audiences.

• Capitalize on the public’s high patronage to social media Social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, is widely used by the public. According to the 2019 research of We Are Social and Hootsuite, Filipinos spend the most time online, specifically in social media, compared to people from all other countries around the world. As the study showed, a Filipino spends an average of 4 hours and 12 minutes in social media each day. This makes social media a very effective way to reach the public.

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On the latter, laws granting franchise to radio and TV stations provide the government free public service airtime will be maximized. However, since there is limitation in time, paying for radio spots or radio plugs will be considered.

• Mobilize media entities in the region Media entities in the region, both public and private, are essential in reaching all target audiences. They can be mobilized to cover press conferences of Regional Line Agencies, with PIA XII as the moderator of the activity.

• Utilize text blast capabilities of agencies such as NTC and NDRRMC Agencies such as the NTC and NDRRMC have SMS Broadcast System, also known as “text blasts” to the general public. With the high access of people to SMS, information will effectively be disseminated.

• Intensify the use of print media Leaflets, briefers, and tarpaulins/signages with infographics shall be utilized.

• Create a production outfit dedicated solely to produce materials for all media The information that needs to be disseminated is high, hence a production outfit shall be established. A creative team composed of voice talents with multilingual skills will be formed to work in the production facility. Another part of the team will be the pool of writers who can pick on new and timely information which must be shared immediately. Furthermore, a production facility, which could either be makeshift or permanent, shall be made in order to produce materials quickly as needed.

• Ensure graduated or calibrated release of information All information to be released should be correct and consistent. Hence, all releases should be graduated and calibrated.

• Gather feedback through crowdsourcing The public’s pulse is important to serve as inputs in improving government’s policies and programs. Given this, feedback through crowdsourcing initiatives will be developed to gather information to evaluate the effectiveness of the message of the plan. This is in addition to those which will be collected through the SMS hotlines.

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The region and the entire country can only truly recover as one if the public and private sectors will work hand in hand. Strengthening of coordination between the Presidential Communications Operations Office, through its various attached agencies (i.e. Philippine Information Agency, Philippine News Agency, People’s Television Network, Radyo Pilipinas, etc.), and other media outlets where the government has airtime credits will be done. All stakeholders (i.e. other government agencies, private firms, non-government organizations, academic community, private media, and volunteer groups) must be engaged, to build a culture of cooperation and collaboration so the plan can be effectively communicated far and wide. With this working together of different institutions and groups, the figure below provides a representation of the communication flow of the RaRP.

Figure 16

Plan Communications Flow

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