Senate panel OKs bills seeking creation of Metropolitan Davao Development Authority
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate Committee on Local Government approved on Monday Senate bills seeking the creation of the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority (MDDA).
The panel approved the consolidated proposed measure from Senate Bill No. 2116 authored by Senator Imee Marcos, Senate Bill No. 2153 by Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, and Senate Bill No. 2157 by Senator Christopher Go.
“We will present this to the plenary in due time. The creation of the MDDA in so far as this committee is concerned is hereby approved,” Senator Francis Tolentino, panel chairperson, said during the hearing.
In an earlier committee hearing for the said bills, Dela Rosa suggested the inclusion of four additional municipalities, such as Hagonoy, Padada, Malalag, and Sta. Maria of Davao Occidental in the jurisdiction of the MDDA, together with the Davao City; the cities of Panabo, Tagum, and the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte; Digos City in Davao del Sur; Mati City in Davao Oriental; and the municipalities of Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur, Carmen in Davao del Norte, Maco in Davao de Oro, and Malita in Davao Occidental, “and such other cities and municipalities as shall be created in the future within these LGUs as provided by law.”
Officials from the additional local municipalities agreed with the inclusion of their LGUs in the jurisdiction of the MDDA during Thursday’s hearing.
The MDDA will be mandated to formulate plans aligned to the Davao Region Development Plan and Philippine Development Plan 2017 to 2022.
It will also set and implement policies on transport management, solid waste disposal, urban renewal, zoning, and land use planning, shelter service, health and sanitation, urban protection, pollution control, public safety, and other metropolitan-wide programs and projects, according to Dela Rosa.
A similar measure for the creation of MDDA was approved on the third and final reading at the House of Representatives last March.
