CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — The Northern Mindanao Regional Development Council (RDC-X) Social Development Committee (SDC) held its third quarter regular meeting on 18 September 2024 at the La Verandah Hall, Chali Beach Resort and Conference Center, Cugman, this city.
Presided by Gingoog City Mayor Erick G. Cañosa, Chairperson of RDC-X SDC, and hosted by the Department of Labor and Employment-X, the meeting gathered key stakeholders to discuss agenda items crucial to addressing regional social development priorities and enhancing the delivery of public services in Northern Mindanao.
The committee endorsed the proposed Terms of Reference (ToR) for localizing the Stakeholders’ Chamber on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The ToR highlighted the importance of localized efforts and collaboration among stakeholders, especially the private sector, in advancing the SDGs.
The committee also supported the Regional SDG Catch-Up Plan for 2024–2030, which outlines strategies to ensure the region meets the Social Sector targets within the SDG framework. Alongside this, the FY 2026 Annual Investment Program and updated Regional Development Investment Program 2023-2028 for the Social Sector were validated, focusing on planned investments to boost critical social services.
The committee received an update on the status of the inclusion of the RDC-X-endorsed FY 2025 Regional Budget Proposal in the 2025 National Expenditure Program for the Social Sector.
The committee discussed policy recommendations to address the shortage of developmental pediatricians, allied health professionals, and special needs educators. They supported these vital measures for improving services for children with developmental disabilities in Northern Mindanao.
The committee also supported the Department of Social Welfare and Development-10’s Panahon ng Pagkilos Project – a PH Locally-led Climate Action Project, which aims to strengthen local capacities for participatory climate resilience planning and deliver climate action in vulnerable areas.
The committee discussed several agenda items, including the proposed Unified Referral Pathway for Child Laborers, the institutionalization of volunteerism as a development strategy, the membership of the Philippine Science High School – Central Mindanao Campus in the RDC-X SDC, and the subsumption of the RDC-X Regional Committee on the Promotion of Culture under the SDC.
The committee endorsed all these items to the RDC-X Full Council for further discussion at its September 26, 2024 meeting. (NEDA-X/PIA-10)
