CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY–The Northern Mindanao Regional Development Council (RDC-X) backed several policies, programs, and projects relating to human capital protection and natural resource management during the Full Council’s 136th meeting on 15 December 2023 at Amaya View, Indahag, this city.
Among key resolutions endorsed to appropriate bodies are the following: enjoining of all local government units (LGUs), state universities and colleges, and government instrumentalities to encourage the enrollment and facilitate the collection of Social Security System contributions of their Contract of Service, Job Order, and Regular Employees, as well as, the establishment of the Northern Mindanao Regional Blood Center. The latter aims to ensure safe and equitable supply of blood and blood components to all hospitals and facilities with blood transfusion services.
“The Regional Blood Center is crucial in addressing medical emergencies, surgeries, and various health conditions, thereby improving overall healthcare services in the region,” said Erick G. Cañosa, Gingoog City Mayor and RDC-X Social Development Committee Chair.
Moreover, the Full Council vetted the following priority projects and policies to mitigate potential risks caused by climate crisis:
- Safeguarding the Protected Areas and Forestlands in Region X;
- Feasibility Study for the Metropolitan Food and Agri-Based Products Cluster for Northern Mindanao;
- Securing Long-Term Sustainability of Multi-Functional Landscape in Critical River Basins of the Philippines (Landscape Project);
- Pang-Agraryong Tulay para sa Bagong Bayanihan ng mga Magsasaka Bridges Project;
- Requesting the 19th Congress to Expedite the Creation of the Department of Water Resources;
- Supporting House Bill 07559, an Act Strengthening the Water Service Cooperatives, Establishing for the Purpose the Local Water Service Cooperative Development Fund and Providing Support Programs for its Growth and Development;
- Requesting the Private Sector Companies to Include Programs/Projects for Water Security in their Corporate Social Responsibility; and
- Enjoining the Provincial and Highly Urbanized City LGUs in Region X to Create an Integrated Water Security Council and Formulate their Respective Integrated Water Security Plan.
The RDC-X also backed the 2024 implementation of the Community-Based Monitoring System, a newly established data collection system that gathers granular data to facilitate targeted local assistance planning.
During said meeting, the Full Council recognized individuals, organizations, and LGUs from the region who have received national awards this year along with outstanding volunteerism of the National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency, outstanding teachers of Metrobank Foundation, regional Gawad Parangal of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, and Seal of Good Local Governance of the Department of the Interior and Local Government. (NEDA-X/PIA-10)
