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Courtesy call of RDC XII Vice-Chairperson and NEDA XII Regional Director Teresita Socorro C. Ramos to Koronadal City Mayor Eliordo U. Ogena on October 15, 2021 at Koronadal City Hall. Also in the meeting were Koronadal City Planning and Development Coordinator Agnes D. Daguro and Legal Officer Halie C. Concepcion, and NEDA XII staff Romel Patrick E. Tanghal, Ricardo L. Lamorena III, and Jose Anthony Laurent P. Octavio.

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato – In its strong commitment to bring services closer to the people and towards the full realization of Koronadal City as SOCCSKSARGEN’s  Regional  Center, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Office XII headed by Director Teresita Socorro C. Ramos paid a courtesy call to Mayor Eliordo U. Ogena on October 15, 2021 at Koronadal City Hall.

During the visit, Director Ramos, who is also the Vice-Chairperson of  Regional Development Council (RDC) XII, thanked Mayor Ogena for heeding the request of the Council to provide a space at the City Hall for the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). For his part, Mayor Ogena conveyed his full support to all the development endeavors of RDC XII. He likewise shared his development vision for the city of becoming a green, sustainable, and resilient city, which he committed to attain within this term as local chief executive.

In addition, Mayor Ogena shared his recollections of the old Municipality of Koronadal compared to the City of Koronadal today, and the important role it plays in the development of the Province of South Cotabato and SOCCSKSARGEN Region. The mayor also revealed that, apart from the top two biggest shopping mall chains (SM and Robinsons) in the country which will begin the construction of their respective malls in the city anytime soon, the premier membership  S & R shopping chain in the Philippines is likewise negotiating to acquire a location in the city. Once the operations of these companies commence, the city’s revenue collections will increase. Moreover, these will catalyze an array of socioeconomic opportunities for the people, given the expected forward and backward linkages of commercial establishments in these malls.   

Other various issues and concerns were discussed in order to strengthen collaboration and partnership in pursuit of bringing more government services to Koronadal City being the regional center and administrative seat of Region XII per Executive Order No. 304, series of 2004.

After the meeting with Mayor Ogena, the NEDA Regional Office XII team, together with Koronadal City Planning and Development Coordinator Agnes D. Daguro and Koronadal City Legal Officer Halie C. Concepcion, conducted an ocular inspection of the area which shall soon serve as GSIS Servicing Unit-Koronadal City. The City Government is already preparing the said office space for GSIS’ occupancy while the Memorandum-of-Agreement (MOA) is being finalized. (Jal P. Octavio, NEDA XII-PFPD)