MCDCB Seeks Help Of National Government Agencies’ For Development Projects

The Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board (MCDCB) is seeking the help of key national government agencies (NGAs) in Cebu in implementing recommended projects addressing critical development issues in Metro Cebu.

MCDCB recently called for a convergence meeting with NGAs in Cebu to discuss how the government agencies can assist the board in ensuring that development projects in the pipeline will be funded and implemented.

MCDCB is a coordinating body for metro-wide planning and development which aims to facilitate the formulation, coordination, and monitoring of integrated development strategies, policies, and standards for the development, initially, of Metro Cebu.

“We still have a long way to go. NGAs will come into a more and more important role in the preparation of the projects, help us through the bureaucracy processes to get the projects approved,” said Roberto Aboitiz, president of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) which facilitates the Mega Cebu program.

Aboitiz encouraged the NGA representatives to sustain their support for the board’s vision under the Mega Cebu Vision and Development Strategy.

“You will be important in helping MCDCB find a way in the accelerators and not the barriers in bureaucracy,” said Aboitiz during the meeting.

The board has raised the need to comply with the steps and requirements specified by the government in order to secure inclusion for project funding.

Evelyn Nacario-Castro, RAFI executive director, said they need the help of NGAs and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) to guide them in finding out where to push the projects for funding.

MCDCB has 14 proposed anchor programs with ten flagship projects addressing development issues in the province.

Castro said that out of the 14 anchor programs, they are looking at three priority areas, namely: water (supply and drainage protection), solid waste, and traffic. (rmn/PIA7-Cebu)