Province, Rafi create project for 8 Cebu towns
Towns under Cebu’s seventh district will soon coordinate with each other in coming up with programs that will benefit their jurisdictions.
The Cebu Provincial Government and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (Rafi) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) yesterday for the creation of an Integrated Development Project.
Present during the signing of the MOU were Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III, Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, Rep. Peter John Calderon (Cebu, seventh district), Rafi chairman and chief executive officer Jon Ramon Aboitiz, and the mayors of the towns in the seventh district.
Calderon told reporters that he connected with Rafi, following their coordination with the Provincial Government, in coming up with the “Our Cebu Program” a few years back.
Calderon said he wants his district to emulate the Provincial Government’s initiative of connecting Rafi with local government units (LGU) to create programs that can provide a holistic approach in addressing issues affecting them.
The seventh district is composed of the municipalities of Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, Badian, Alegria, Malabuyoc and Ginatilan.
Based on the MOU, the Integrated Development Project aims to develop a data management system that will be used for planning and monitoring purposes.
It also aims to formulate an Integrated Development Plan for the district, which will include a vision, action plan and strategy for its realization.
The program also seeks the formation and capacity building of focal teams with the district’s eight LGUs for the formulation of local development plans that will align with the district-wide plan.
It also aims to formulate a results-based performance management system with the LGUs and an inter-local, multi-sectoral council to facilitate decision-making and progress for the implementation of the district-wide plan.
While the Province will assist the district in coming up with the over-all strategy management mechanism, Rafi will provide technical assistance to the towns in the district.
Calderon hopes that the Integrated Development Project will be able to implement some programs in the district that will boosts the towns’ economic development and tourism, among others. /