The Regional Development Council XII-Advisory Committee met on January 29, 2019 to discuss priority projects in SOCCSKSARGEN region. Key topics discussed included expediting the conversion of Allah Valley Community Hospital into the SOCCSKSARGEN General Hospital, improving the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital, upgrading the Sarangani Hospital, completing the Marbel-Makar Road, and prioritizing the expansion of the General Santos City International Airport. The committee also pushed for upgrading Makar Wharf to accommodate larger vessels.

1. Secretary Pernia affirms development direction for
SOCCSKSARGEN Region
General Santos City Airport Continues Expansion

2. Editor-in-Chief
RD TERESITA SOCORRO C. RAMOS
Associate Editor
ARD NOEL E. QUIRATMAN
Contributing Editors
JULIE ESPERANZA B. CHUNG
MARIA FELICIDAD R. GUERRERO
MA. LULU E. VALENCIA
ROMEL PATRICK E. TANGHAL
GUILLERMO R. MANRIQUE, JR.
RDU Focal Persons
LALAINE M. SAJELAN
SANDRA J. ALIDO
APOLLO Y. MANLAWE
EVIE A. CABULANAN
MELISSA GABRIELLE H. VARGAS
JOSEPH DIDIUS L. CLAVE
MYRA L. SAJO
Photographer
APOLLO Y. MANLAWE
Layout Artist
APOLLO Y. MANLAWE
Contributors
PIA XII
PSA XII
EDITORIAL BOARD
The Regional Development Updates
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Development Council (RDC) XII with
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CONTENTS
RDC XII AdCom discusses Sox major
projects
Secretary Pernia affirms development
direction for SOCCSKSARGEN Region
Tboli eyes blending social responsibility
in future Lake Holon climbs
On our cover is one of the pictures
of the RDC XII - Advisory
Committee Meeting on January 29,
2019 at Belmonte Hall, Batasang
Pambansa, Quezon City. The
meeting was personally attended by
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary
Ernesto M. Pernia. The picture
below is the perspective picture of the
General Santos City airport showing
the fins of tuna inspired facade design.
33
List of RDC XII Resolutions
Passed during the 1st Quarter
Meeting
General Santos City Airport
Continues Expansion
Volume 17 | Number 1 | January - March 2019
44
66
88
2 | Regional Development Updates | January - March 2019
10-1110-11
DOST XII Inaugurates the Philippine
National Halal Laboratory and Science
Center in Koronadal City
77
GSC SUID Master Plan Formulation
Officially Starts99

3. January - March 2019 | Regional Development Updates | 3
Secretary Pernia affirms development direction
for SOCCSKSARGEN Region
KORONADAL CITY, South
Cotabato – Socioeconomic
Planning Secretary Ernesto
M. Pernia personally attended
the meeting of the Regional
Development Council XII-
Advisory Committee (RDC
XII-AdCom) on January 29,
2019 at Belmonte Hall, Batasang
Pambansa, Quezon City. He
provided updates on the national
economy that served as useful
direction in the discussion of
priority programs and projects for
SOCCSKSARGEN Region.
The Secretary said that the
country remains among the best
performing economies in Asia,
growing by 6 percent or higher in
the past 7 years and an average of
6.5% growth in the first 2.5 years
of the present Administration.
The full year 2018 growth was
pegged at 6.2%, slightly lower
than the targeted 7.0% because
of the decelerated performance in
agriculture and manufacturing sub
sectors, as well as the devastation
caused by several typhoons that
hit Luzon. Fortunately, Region
XII is not frequently hit by
typhoons and this is advantageous
for agricultural production, he
said.
Secretary Pernia is also hopeful
that more projects of regional
significance will be included in
each agency budget following the
signing of a Joint Memorandum
Circular between NEDA and
DBM which strengthens the
linkage between national and
regional planning and budgeting.
He also looked forward to the
complete implementation of
Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation
Project Phase 2, and the Kabulnan
2 Multipurpose Irrigation and
Power Project in Region XII.
Meanwhile, Congressman
Pedro Acharon of the 1st
District
of South Cotabato asked the
Secretary about Region XII’s
significant contribution to the
national economy; the rationale
for lower budget share of Region
XII and the whole of Mindanao;
and the inclusion of Region XII
in the Mindanao Railway System.
The Secretary responded that
among 17 regions, Region XII has
a significant contribution of 2.6%
to the national economy. The
Secretary said that the Mindanao
budget may not as be as large as
those allocated for Visayas and
Luzon, but the island receives
the bulk of Official Development
Assistance (ODA) funds. He cited
the construction of Panguil Bridge
that will be funded by Korean
ODA. The Mindanao Railway
project is another example of a
large investment in Mindanao,
which is expected to reach key
By: Sandra J. Alido, NEDA XII
Secretary Pernia ... page 4
In picture (L-R): Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia; RDC XII Chairperson, Mayor Ronnel C.
Rivera of General Santos City; and Hon. Ferdinand L. Hernandez, District Representative of South Cotabato, 2nd
District during the RDC XII-AdCom Meeting on January 29, 2019.

4. growth areas in the island as its
design is not only circular but
with spur lines that will connect,
for instance, Region XII to the
system, he added.
The Secretary advised the
members of the Committee to
take advantage of the current
President with his passion for the
development of Mindanao. He
emphasized that the improvement
of the General Santos Airport
should be prioritized to motivate
more investments for Region XII.
RDC XII AdCom Meeting is
conducted in the early part of each
year to discuss priority projects
of the region in preparation for
the budgeting exercise sometime
in late February or early March.
The AdCom is composed of
the RDC Full Council Officers,
Chairpersons and Co-chairpersons
of the RDC Sectoral Committees,
and the Congresspersons of the
region. Aside from Congressman
Acharon, Deputy Speaker
Ferdinand Hernandez who
also served as convenor of the
Congressmen, Congressmen Jose
Tejada and Rogelio Pacquiao, and
representatives of Congressmen
Jesus Sacdalan, Datu Suharto
Mangungudatu, Horacio
Suansing, and Bai Sandra Sema
attended the meeting.
4 | Regional Development Updates | January - March 2019
Secretary Pernia ... from page 3
RDC XII AdCom discusses Sox major projects
By: Sandra J. Alido, NEDA XII
City of Koronadal, South
Cotabato – The Regional
Development Council XII-
Advisory Committee (RDC
XII-AdCom) met on January
29, 2019 at the Belmonte Hall,
Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City
to discuss priority projects of the
SOCCSKSARGEN Region.
AdCom members pushed
for the implementation of
priority projects that included
development of hospitals,
construction of roads and bridges,
improvement of the General
Santos International Airport, and
the development of Makar Wharf.
By virtue of Republic Act 11102
sponsored by Deputy Speaker
Ferdinand L. Hernandez and
Congressman of the South
Cotabato 2nd
District, the
Allah Valley Community
Hospital in Surallah, South
Cotabato was converted into
the SOCCSKSARGEN General
Hospital. With this development,
Congressman Hernandez passed
a resolution to fast track the
implementation of the conversion
of the said hospital. An amount
of about PhP140 Million was
allocated for the hospital’s
improvement, he said.
Congressman Hernandez also
announced the PhP200 Million
budgetary allocation for the
improvement of South Cotabato
Provincial Hospital, inauguration
of which was scheduled on
January 31, 2019.
In picture (L-R): RDC XII Vice-Chairperson, Regional Director Teresita Socorro C. Ramos of National Economic and
Development Authority XII; RDC XII Chairperson, Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera of General Santos City; and Deputy Speaker
Ferdinand L. Hernandez of South Cotabato 2nd
District during the RDC XII-AdCom Meeting on January 29, 2019.

5. January - March 2019 | Regional Development Updates | 5
Congressman Pedro Acharon,
representative of South Cotabato
1st
District and General Santos
City, inquired about the status
of the Sarangani Hospital in
view of the need to unburden
the Gen. Santos City Hospital
which has to serve additional
patients from Sarangani.
DOH XII representative Engr.
Rey Santillan answered that
the hospital operates as an
Outpatient Department (OPD)
only. Nonetheless, the bidding
process was completed for the
construction of its 3-storey
building with an allocation of
PhP100 Million.
The Marbel-Makar Road
(Koronadal City to General
Santos Highway) is already 6
lanes except for a short portion in
Koronadal City proper to Brgy.
Saravia, according to DPWH
XII. Congressman Hernandez
informed the Committee that a
bike lane was proposed by DPWH
along the whole stretch of this
road and this would be the 1st
highway in the country to have a
bike lane.
The ongoing improvement of
General Santos International
Airport highlighted the discussion
of the meeting. It was a common
observation of the Committee
members that improvement
work has been rather slow. The
Committee instructed DOTr
to prioritize and fast track the
implementation, assess the status
of ongoing construction and come
up with recommendations for a
design that will be at par with
other new airports in the country.
Meanwhile, Congressmen
Hernandez and Acharon are also
pushing for the upgrading of
Makar Wharf to accommodate
large vessels.
In Picture (L-R): Project Manager Ginalyn P. Cachuela of SOCSKSARGEN Area
Development Project Office, Congressman Rogelio D. Pacquio of Sarangani, RD
Basir Ibrahim of DPWH XII, PSR Alfredo Bronx P. Hebrona, Congressman Jose
Tejada of Cotabato Province 3rd
District, and Congressman Pedro B. Acharon, Jr. of
South Cotabato, 1st
District.

6. PROJECT MONITORING PROJECT MONITORING
10 | Regional Development Updates | April - June 20176 | Regional Development Updates | January - March 2019
PROJECT MONITORING PROJECT MONITORING
General Santos City Airport
Continues Expansion
By: Apollo Y. Manlawe, NEDA XII
City of Koronadal, South
Cotabato – The rehabilitation
and expansion of the passenger
terminal building (PTB) of the
General Santos City International
Airport is being continued. The
ongoing project which was started
on May 9, 2017, is expected to
be completed on June 16, 2019,
as revised. However, it only has
a 39.66% accomplishment as of
1st
Quarter of 2019 and a notable
slippage of -12.85% due to lack
of manpower, non-availability of
materials, among others, marred
the project.
When the project is completed
the airport will have two contact
bridges and three remote stands
for heavy aircraft.
The airport is considered as
one of the largest airports in the
Philippines with a land area of
almost 600 hectares located in
Barangay Fatima, General Santos
City. The existing terminal
building of the GSC airport can
accommodate around 500-800
passengers daily.
The facility is an international
- standard airport with 3,227
meters runway equipped with
modern navigational aids
equipment and runway lighting
system, classified by the CAAP
under Aerodrome Category
9 (Rescue and Fire Fighting
Services)
The airport serves an average
of 8 flights daily or 56 flights/
week, covering the routes from
General Santos City to Manila,
Cebu, Iloilo and vice-versa. The
commercial airlines that operate
in the airport are Philippine
Airlines and Cebu Pacific.

7. January - March 2019 | Regional Development Updates | 7
DOST XII
Inaugurates the
Philippine National
Halal Laboratory
and Science Center
in Koronadal City
By: Aurel Raymund P. Betque, NEDA XII
City of Koronadal, South
Cotabato – The Philippine
National Halal Laboratory and
Science Center (PNHLSC) of
the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST) XII was
inaugurated on February 25, 2019
at Barangay Paraiso, Koronadal
City, South Cotabato. DOST XII
Regional Director Zenaida Hadji
P. Raof Laidan led the ribbon
cutting and the unveiling of the
landmark which was witnessed
by guests from regional line
agencies, local government units,
state universities and colleges, the
media, and foreign dignitaries.
Among the distinguished
guests present were Secretary
Fortunato T. de la Peña of DOST,
Secretary General Ihsan Ovut
of Standards and Metrology
Institute of Islamic Countries
(SMIIC), Russian Ambassador
Ihor A. Khovaev, Turkish
Halal Accreditation Agency
President Zafer Soylu, Vahid
Marandi Moghaddam-Deputy for
Supervision on Implementation
of Halal Standards Institute
of Standards and Industrial
Research of Iran (ISRI), Assistant
Secretary-General Abdurrahman
Alzaid of the Muslim World
League of Kingdom of Saudi
Arabaia, former South Cotabato
Governor Dr. Arturo Y. Pingoy.
The Regional Development
Council (RDC) was represented
by its Vice-Chairperson/NEDA
XII Regional Director Teresita
Socorro C. Ramos.
In her inaugural address, RD
Laidan expressed gratitude to
the local government officials of
South Cotabato and Koronadal
City for providing support to
the project, particularly on the
donation of the lot and provision
of access road, and to RDC XII
for passing resolutions supporting
the establishment of PNHLSC
in Koronadal City. RD Laidan
emphasized that: “The Philippine
National Halal Laboratory and
Science Center is envisioned
as a one-stop-shop with the
ultimate goal of developing
locally made products of Halal
premium brands compliant with
internationally accepted standards
and requirements, adopting the
Unified Global Halal Standards.
It is the pioneering Halal facility
in the country envisioned to be
a certifying laboratory for Halal
and to serve as a clearing house
of Halal certified products coming
in and out of the country for the
benefit of Halal consumers.”
Secretary de la Peña
expressed support to the full
operationalization of the
PNHLSC. He emphasized
that science and technology
are essential in Halal process
improvement, product
development and research in
the country. The foreign guests
mentioned also conveyed their
messages of support for the said
project.
RD Ramos delivered the message
of RDC XII Chairperson and
Mayor of LGU General Santos
City, Hon. Ronnel C. Rivera who
was not able to attend the activity.
RD Ramos thanked DOST XII
for being instrumental in realizing
one of the priority projects in
the Regional Development
Plan (RDP) and stressed that
the project was included in the
RDP for more than nine years.
In his speech which was read
by the Vice-Chair, the RDC
Chairperson said: “let me assure
you of my unwavering support
and commitment, as Chairperson
of the Regional Development
Council and City Mayor of the
Local Government of General
Santos City, towards cooperative
and collaborative efforts in the
promotion of Halal Export.”
The inauguration ended with a
tour around the new PNHLSC
building.

8. 8 | Regional Development Updates | January - March 2019
Tboli eyes blending
social responsibility
in future Lake Holon
climbs
By: Danilo E. Doguiles, PIA XII
City of Koronadal, South
Cotabato – KORONADAL CITY,
South Cotabato, (PIA)— In the
future, a trek to Lake Holon in
Tboli, this province could be an
opportunity to deliver beneficial
services to the environment and
the community, an official of the
local government unit announced.
Rodel Hilado, tourism officer
of Tboli, in an interview with
Philippine Information Agency
during the #Infinity Trek
Pilgrimage, said they are shifting
gears on tourism in the famed
Lake Holon considering the
integration of social responsibility
activities during climbs starting in
2020.
On March 9 and 10, some 300
tourists joined the #Infinity Trek,
which also indicates the reopening
of the popular eco-adventure
tourism site to visitors for the
2019 season.
#Infinity Trek, Hilado explained,
is the final season of the five-year
marketing and promotion plan
that targets millennials and young
people, which also means that the
local government unit of Tboli
will have to set a fresh tourism
plan for the site for 2020 to 2025.
“If there will be a Pilgrimage
Season 6 it will be #Beyond.
Probably our treks would be
about community service and
understanding biodiversity. There
might be also community outreach
programs,” Hilado said.
Such plan, he added, would give
stronger emphasis to sustainable
tourism.
“We are the first LGU in the
whole country that responded to
the call of the United Nations for
sustainable tourism,” he said.
Lake Holon’s clear, calm water
is best enjoyed on either a rubber
boat or a wooden banca.
In celebration of 2017 as
the International Year of
the Sustainable Tourism for
Development, UN called
for sustainable consumption
and production of tourism
to contribute to the global
development agenda.
This, Hilado added, also requires
strengthening of the existing
policies pertaining to tourism
activities. Most notable of
prevailing rules include the annual
closure of Lake Holon and a cap
on the number of visitors allowed.
“We are unique in the whole
Philippines because from January
to March, Lake Holon is closed to
tourists,” he said, saying further
that prohibiting entry to the area
allows the lake to rejuvenate and
revert to its pristine state.
Such periods are also spent on
improving the facilities in the
area; holding biodiversity and
environmental research; and
training of tour guides, porters,
motorcycle drivers and other
frontline service providers.
In the past, trails had to be
rerouted after a research team
found that a portion of the
climbers’ path cuts across a
habitat of ant species endemic to
the area.
Hilado said the policy on strictly

9. January - March 2019 | Regional Development Updates | 9
limiting the maximum number of
climbers per trek to 200 will remain.
Visitors who enter Lake Holon via
Kule trail may opt to cross the lake
on a banca to the campsite.
Holon, tagged as the “Crown Jewel
of the South,” is the lake on the crater
of Mt. Melibengoy (formerly known
as Mt. Parker) situated 1,280.16
meters above sea level. It is located
in Barangay Salacafe.
It was recognized as among the Top
100 Sustainable Green Destinations
in the world in 2016 and 2017.
From the visitor receiving area in
Salacafe, trekkers may proceed to the
campsite via Kule trail or the Nabol
trail, both passing by decks offering
breathtaking panoramic view of the
lake.
On foot, a trek to Holon via either
trail could take two to five hours.
This year, the regular trek to Holon
starts on March 16.
Earlier, Hilado said Lake Holon is
already fully booked until the Holy
Week. However, the Municipal
Tourism Development and Promotion
Unit clarified that what have been
filled are those passing through Kule
trail and that there are still available
slots for the Nabol trail.
Hilado also reported that they have
already received bookings for the
summer vacation until August.
Records from the Municipal
Tourism Development Unit indicate
increasing number of visitors to
Lake Holon: 961 in 2013; 2,064 in
2014; 5,543 in 2015; 16,218 in 2016;
10,446 in 2017; and 16,942 in 2018.
City of Koronadal, South Cotabato
-The formulation of the Sustainable
Urban Infrastructure Development
(SUID) Master Plan of General Santos
City (GSC) officially started on
February 20, 2019 through a kick-off
meeting presided by the City Mayor,
Honorable Ronnel C. Rivera.
The said meeting was also attended
by the key stakeholders from the City
Government of General Santos, GSC
Water District, National Economic and
Development Authority (NEDA) XII,
Mindanao Development Authority
(MinDA), and the consultants.
The formulation of the said master
plan is a joint venture project of
the Orient Integrated Development
Consultants, Inc. (OIDCI),
Engineering and Development
Corporation of the Philippines
(EDCOP), Pacific Rim Innovation
and Management Exponents, Inc.
(PRIMEX), and CEST Incorporated
(CEST). It is funded under the
Project Development and Other
Related Studies Fund of NEDA.
The consultants guaranteed the
stakeholders that the formulation of
the master plan will complement with
the current infrastructure initiatives
of the city, such as the construction
of an overpass, road concreting from
Bulaong Terminal to GSC Airport,
construction of the people’s park,
improvement of the public market
and city’s transportation system,
as well as the modernization of the
Makar Wharf. The above mentioned
projects of the city are funded under
the British Assistance and Public
Private Partnership (PPP) and are
also indicated in their Climate and
Disaster Risk Assessment (CDRA)
enhanced Comprehensive Land Use
Plan (CLUP).
Likewise, the said master plan will
consider the ongoing Feasibility
Study (FS) on Water Treatment
Facility under the direction of GSC
Water District.
Mayor Rivera assured the consultants
of the cooperation and support of
the city government. He allowed the
consulting team to access relevant
data needed in the said project and he
offered them an office space within
the city government complex.
The local chief executive also
proposed the organization of a
technical working and advisory
groups which will include key
personnel of the City Government
of GSC and the NEDA XII to
coordinate and monitor the progress
and development of the said plan
formulation.
GSC SUID Master
Plan Formulation
Officially Starts
By: Gwyneth Grace B.. Collado, NEDA XII

10. 10 | Regional Development Updates | January - March 2019
Regional Development Council XII
Resolutions Passed
65th
Regular Meeting, 20 March 2019
Koronadal City

11. January - March 2019 | Regional Development Updates | 11
Regional Development Council XII
Resolutions Passed
65th
Regular Meeting, 20 March 2019
Koronadal City

12. 12 | Regional Development Updates | October - December 2017