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) which 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.(GGBCollado-NEDA XII-PFPD)