MANILA – The Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has approved the grant to support the formulation of the master plan for the establishment of the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority (MDDA).
In a news release by Malacañang on Thursday, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Davao Regional Director Maria Lourdes Lim said the MDDA is currently in its “formative stages.”
Lim noted that in order for the law to be implemented, it needs the implementing rules and regulations; the approval of plantilla for the human resource; and the budget.
“In fact, next week we are expecting a survey team that will put together the work and the national plan for the masterplan project for Metro Davao,” she said during a meeting with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in Davao City.
The MDDA, created through Republic Act No. 11708 or the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority Act, is a special body mandated to coordinate and promote the socio-economic growth and sustainable development of Metropolitan Davao. It was signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte in April of this year.
Among its services are development planning; transport management; solid waste disposal and management; flood control and sewerage management; urban renewal, zoning, land use planning and shelter services; health and sanitation and public safety. - Florenda Corpuz
(Article cover photo courtesy of the Office of the Press Secretary)
