Gov’t reports status of RDC capability building autonomy fund

by Lito Dar

Baguio City (5 September) — The Regional Development Council (RDC-CAR) held a forum Wednesday, September 2, at the RDC Hall NEDA Compound, in order to give partial progressive report on the status of the capability building autonomy fund that was given to its member line agencies.

In the said forum, RDC-CAR Acting Chair and NEDA regional director Juan Ngalob explained that as part of the renewed pursuit of regional autonomy some line-agencies were given special autonomy fund of P1 million, for capability building so to enable them to take on the devote prospective functions, in line-with the 8-plus areas, should we become an autonomous region.

Ngalob also stressed that the P1 Million capability building fund, is a small amount and was just given to pump prime, the different line-agency programs for economic development of the region.

For the Department of Agriculture (DA), they were tasked to try to revive the region’s coffee industry, particularly the Arabica Coffee; for the Department of Tourism, the were tasked to be more aggressive in selling the eco-tourism potential of CAR; and as far as the e-sector is concern it is led by the Department of Trade and Industry, which is tasked to progress in improving the region’s business and investment climate, Ngalob said.

In her progress report, DA Planning and Monitoring Division head Suzan Balanza, the DA have already started a program, they call “Advancing the Coffee Industry in CAR,” in an effort to revive the region’s coffee industry, particularly Arabica.

According to Balanza, our Arabica has a big potential not only in the local market but international as well, and Cordillera have a comparative advantage, as far as coffee farming is concerned because of our high altitude and cool climate. By advancing the region’s coffee industry, we are not only enhancing the income and livelihood of our farmers but we can also protect our watersheds, through Agro-forestry, Balanza added.

As for the DA’s accomplishments, Balanza reported that they have already provided some direct interventions, enhance the capability of our coffee growers, in partnership with the Office of the Presidential Assistant (OPA) and they are also presently in the production of IEC materials. “The DA has already done several trainings in facilitating the skills of our coffee growers, such as harvesting, nursery and post-harvest. The DA is also providing farmers with seedlings and seedling bags,” Balanza added.

For DTI’s part, Assistant Regional Director Carmelita Usman reported, that they are engaged in souvenir products enhancements, designers full development and promotions of investments. With augmentation from the DTI’s own fund, Usman also stressed that they are assisting LGUs in streamlining their licensing processes, which is important for local economic development.

On investment promotion, Usman also reported that the DTI has been doing Audio Video Presentations, on different venues, such as the North Luzon Business Conference, OTOP Luzon Island fair and IMPAKABSAT fair. DTI-CAR is also planning to join the North Philippines cluster (with regions I and II), in promoting our region’s identified investment priority areas and to give employment opportunities for our constituents and increase their revenues, Usman added.

For product Development, the DTI is also helping in developing the packaging of our food products, which is important in marketing, and for non-food product, the DTI is helping in showcasing new product designs, Usman said.

Meantime, DOT-CAR Regional Director Pura Molintas reported that are into the promotion of the region’s tourism in the international and domestic television. “We are now intensifying our promotion, through television, both local and international, and we are focusing into two categories, namely, on adventure and agriculture/culture,” Molintas said.

“Right now we have two on-going AVPs, one with Living Asia and the other is on ABS-CBN’s TFC channel, which resulted to higher awareness of the other region’s on our different tourism area.”

DOT-CAR is also now in the process of finalizing or completing a new AVP for Cordilera’s tourism, wherein the new adventure spots and packages are included and will promote Cordillera, as the “Skyline.” (PIA)