CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – The Regional Development Council (RDC-Region 10) in Northern Mindanao has unanimously endorsed the P365.58-million Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP) for 2012-2016, in an effort to spur the economic development in the region, officials disclosed Monday.

The favorable budget endorsement of the RDIP for 2012-2016 is part of the Philippine Investment Plan (PIP), Philippine Development Plan (PDP) and Regional Development Plan (RDP), and in line with Memorandum Circular No. 3 in coordination with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).

The endorsement was made during last week’s 90th RDC Full Council Meeting in Tangub City in Misamis Occidental.

The total investment requirements per RDP Chapter Title are as follows: Governance and Peace and Order, P335.21 million; Access, Logistics and Other Infrastructure Services, P268,415.55 million; Trade, Industry and Tourism, P610.94 million; Environment and Sustainable Development, P1,069.84 million; Well-Being and Improved Welfare, P34,873.53 million; Agriculture and Fishery, P45,578.26 million; Education and Youth Empowerment, P14,098.49 million; and Science and Technology, P601.09 million.

These amounts reflect the investment requirements regardless of financing, as presented during the RDC-X Executive Meeting, but may change, subject to a final submission of the respective national government agencies (NGAs), government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).

The RDIP is an accompanying document of the RDP that includes the priority programs and projects (PAPs) that contribute to the societal goals and outcomes spelled out in its Results Matrices regardless of financing from the national government, local government units (LGUs), private sector, public-private partnerships, and those that require national government equities, subsidies and guarantees.

It is also an instrument to monitor government targets, commitments and resources for the region over the medium- term, said Region 10 NEDA Regional Director Engr. Leon M. Dacanay, Jr., in a press statement.

Dacanay said it is logical that during the annual budgeting, NGAs, GOCCs and SUCs should ensure that the national programs and projects included in the budget are linked to the RDP and are included in the RDIP.

The RDC-10 adopted the guidelines for the formulation of the RDIP, during its recent full council meeting, and the draft RDIP of the respective NGAs, GOCCs and SUCs were presented to the respective committees for their scrutiny, after which the revisions and additional plans were summarized.

Meanwhile, the economic development in Butuan is being strengthened by implementing and structuring more infrastructure projects that will support the business community and incoming investors, both foreign and domestic, to spur the growing economic activity in this region’s frontier and capital city by the year 2012-2013 and beyond.

The city government, along with concerned national government agencies will build at least a 2,000 meter-long harbor in Barangays Lumbocan and Masao and upgrade the existing airport that can accommodate bigger and more aircraft in all weather-type of operations even during night time.

More new and rehabilitation of roads and bridges, especially farm-to-market roads are also in the priority program that will help the rural businesses and farmers in bringing their products to the market.

The city government is also prioritizing water supply system project, the full implementation of the rural energy development, social and sports complex, comprehensive drainage system, solid waste management cum organic farming program, other multi-modal transport development, heritage waterways development, investment and tourism promotion, housing program, rehabilitation of old roads and bridges and completion of south market.

The public-private-partnership or PPP projects with Japanese group and other foreign investors will be also strengthened in 2012-2013 and beyond.