STRENGTHENING MNDC: Metro Cebu to share secrets of robust growth in summit

By Jason B. Neola NAGA CITY --- The city government of Naga thru the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s Committee on Business, Trade, and Investment is organizing a summit that aims to strengthen the alliance of 17 local government units called the Metro Naga Development Council (MNDC). The committee is chaired by City Councilor Julian C. Lavadia Jr. The talks are focused on the best practices observed during the benchmarking tour in Metro Cebu in March 2017 which was joined by the representatives from the MNDC Project Monitoring Unit, the Department of Trade-Camarines Sur, and LGU-Bombon. MNDC Chairperson and Naga Mayor John G. Bongat said that the summit of mayors, vice-mayors, councilors, and Municipal Planning and Development Coordinators (MPDCs) of all LGU-members of the Metro Naga Development Council is expected to allow the inter-local government alliance to implement programs, projects, activities and services that will help it to attain equitable and sustainable development. “It is hoped that by conducting this activity, we can prepare, undertake, and implement a comprehensive, integrated, and collaborative development program to promote MNDC’s development agenda as approved by the council,” Bongat said. The assembly, which will be conducted on September 9, 2017, at the Avenue Plaza Convention Center, here, will be participated in by Mayor Lakambini Reluya of San Fernando, Cebu, Director Evelyn Nacario of Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board, and Joel Mari Yu, former assistant secretary of Department of Trade and Industry, who is now the economic advisor of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, as resource speakers. MNDC Executive Officer Adolfo M. Badiola Jr. said the summit hopes to explore the possibility of drafting and implementing a sustainable roadmap for Metro Naga patterned after the Sustainable Roadmap for Mega Cebu 2050 which details the action plans for both short-term and long-term plans to address, among others, delivery of drinking water, solid waste management, road traffic, economic development, environmental protection, and many other concerns and most especially to come up with a rationalized Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs). In this regard, the Project Monitoring Unit of the MNDC (PMU-MNDC) proposes that the Sustainable Roadmap for Metro Naga contain the following sub-roadmaps on economic development, climate change strategy, and peace and order, Badiola said. On economic development, which carries the following component, which the Metro Naga mayors will pledge their commitment to realize, are the MNDC’s investment promotions and incentive plan, local industry road maps, area-specific economic role, and tourism development master plan. On climate change strategy: Metro Naga DRRMP, Drainage System Master Plan, Integrated Solid Waste Management Program, Clustered Solid Waste Facilities, Resource Utilization, Management and Protection Plan, and Integrated Waterways Management Plan while on security, peace, and order are Peace and Security Plan, Emergency Response Plan, Road Traffic Management Plan. These 3 thematic areas will be supported with Integrating Strategies which include: Harmonized Comprehensive Land Use Plan, Strengthened MNDC, Metro Naga Road Network Plan, Establishment of Good Governance and Development Hub, and the Review of Metro Naga Physical Framework Plan.