Zamboanga City chosen by RDC as regional center, WHILE PALACE EXTENDS SUBMISSION OF THE REPORT OF THE INTER-AGENCY STUDY ON THE REGION IX REGIONAL CENTER TRANSFER AND ITS IMPACT ON THE REGION

REGIONAL CENTER ISSUE UPDATE:

THE Regional Development Council (RDC) voted Thursday to name Zamboanga City as the regional center of Zamboanga Peninsula.

Of the 34 members present during the 135th RDC meeting held at the Top Plaza Hotel in Dipolog City, 26 voted in favor of Zamboanga City to be the regional center in the region. Only four voted for Pagadian City, while four others abstained from voting.

The voting process was done through secret balloting and run-off style.

THE Regional Development Council (RDC) voted Thursday to name Zamboanga City as the regional center of Zamboanga Peninsula.

Of the 34 members present during the 135th RDC meeting held at the Top Plaza Hotel in Dipolog City, 26 voted in favor of Zamboanga City to be the regional center in the region. Only four voted for Pagadian City, while four others abstained from voting.

The voting was based on a letter from the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) dated February 17, 2011 giving the RDC-Zamboanga Peninsula until February 24 to decide on the issue.

Uy, however, sought for an extension, which was consequently granted, on grounds that the next RDC meeting was set for March 4.

In the run-off style, members of the RDC were asked to vote on which city they prefer, or opt to be the regional center.

Per suggestion of Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat, all the cities were nominated and the two cities that got the highest number of votes went through another round of secret balloting to determine which among the two will be RDC's final choice.

During the presentation of profile of the different cities in the region, the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) emphasized that the cities were presented based on their strengths and weaknesses.

Based on the study, it was found out that Zamboanga City has all the facilities necessary for a functional regional center, while Pagadian City is lacking in facilities.

The result of the secret balloting during the run-off process is as follows: Zamboanga City, 22 votes; Pagadian City, five votes; Dipolog City, three votes; Ipil (component capital of Sibugay), two votes; and Dapitan City and Isabela City, zero vote.

Two members of the RDC abstained from voting.

Based on the final outcome, Lobregat moved for a resolution stating that the RDC-Zamboanga Peninsula's official stand is for Zamboanga City to be the regional center of the region.

The motion was seconded by Department of Health (DOH) Regional Director Dr. Aristides Tan.

In 2001, the RDC in the region, which was then under Governor Isagani Amatong, approved resolution IX-32-2001, proposing to the Office of the President the amendment to Executive Order (EO) 36 to explicitly identify Zamboanga City as the regional center of Zamboanga Peninsula.

EO 36, signed by then President Gloria Arroyo on September 19, 2001, provides for the reorganization of the administrative regions in Mindanao and for other purposes.

It was issued as a result of the August 2001 plebiscite where Basilan province opted to join the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm).

The same order is silent on the designation of the regional government centers in Mindanao, but the city of Pagadian clamored for the transfer of the government center from Zamboanga City to Pagadian City pursuant to the provisions of EO 429, issued by the late President Cory Aquino in 1990.

Several regional offices were ordered transferred to Pagadian City, resulting in a controversy on the designation of the government center in Zamboanga Peninsula.

Last December 11, 2010, Malacañang issued Memorandum Circular (MC) 11 ordering a 30-day moratorium on the transfer order.

It expired January 21 but Malacañang extended the moratorium to March 31 through MC 11-A, giving concerned agencies the chance to submit report of the inter-agency study on the regional center transfer and its impact on the region. (Bong Garcia, sunstar.com )

Office of the President

Of the Philippines

Malacañang

MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 11-A

EXTENDING THE SUBMISSION OF THE REPORT OF THE INTER-AGENCY STUDY ON THE REGION IX REGIONAL CENTER TRANSFER AND ITS IMPACT ON THE REGION

WHEREAS, Memorandum Circular No. 11, dated ss22 December 2010, directed the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), the National Economic and Development Agency (NEDA), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Civil Service Commission (CSC), and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in thirty (30) working days from the issuance of said Memorandum Circular to conduct a study and stakeholders’ dialogue on the issues and concerns on the transfer of the Regional Center of region IX from Zamboanga City to Pagadian City.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, PAQUITO N. OCHOA JR., executive Secretary, by authority of His Excellency BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. The date of submission of the final report of the inter-agency study on the Region IX Regional Center Transfer and its impact on the region is hereby extended for thirty eight (38) working days from 07 February 2011 or until 31 March 2011.

SECTION 2. The Memorandum Circular amends Memorandum Circular No. 11, series 2010.

SECTION 3. This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 24^th day of February, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Eleven.

By authority of the President:

(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR., 

Executive Secretary