DIDP Profile

Beginnings

In October 1993, Atty. Jesus V. Ayala traveled to Hong Kong with then Davao Province Governor Prospero S. Amatong, then Tagum Mayor Victorio Suaybaguio, Jr., then Davao City Councilor Aris Albay and a group of Regional Directors composed of Atty. Wendel E. Avisado of DILG, Atty. Antonio V.A. Llamas of LTO, Mr. Mario Luis Jacinto of DENR, Ms. Aurora R. Pelayo of NEDA and Engr. Merly Cruz of DTI. Incidentally, another group of Davao City Councilors were also in Hong Kong for a study mission. At a dinner-meeting hosted by Atty. Ayala, Governor Amatong brought up the idea of Davao City and Davao Province jointly undertaking various social, infrastructure and economic development projects. As a first step, the group decided to organize its respective Task Forces to study and evaluate the proposal. When the group returned to Davao, a series of consultations and meetings ensued among the Task Forces of concerned local government units. Then Governor Rogelio Llanos of Davao del Sur and then Governor Rosalind Lopez of Davao Oriental later signified their interest and intention to join this local government initiative which is now known as the Davao Integrated Development Program (DIDP).

DIDP is recognized as one of the most successful showcases of LGU empowerment and initiative in the country today. By far, it is the longest existing aggrupation of local government units, whereby, the member-LGUs religiously pay their annual contribution to a common fund to shoulder the cost of running and managing the program.

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Legal Basis

1987 Philippine Constitution

Article x, Section 13

"Local Government Units may group themselves, consolidate or coordinate their efforts, services and resources for purposes commonly beneficial to them in accordance with law.""

Republic Act 7160

Chapter 3, Article 3, Section 33

"Local Government Units may, through appropriate ordinances, group themselves, consolidate or coordinate their efforts, services and resources for purposes commonly beneficial to them. In support of such undertakings, the LGUs involved may, upon approval by the Sanggunian concerned after a public hearing conducted for the purpose, contribute funds, real estate, equipment and other kinds of property and appoint or assign personnel under such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by the participating local units through Memoranda of Agreement."

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Vision

To promote and expand an effective and mutually beneficial undertaking through socio-economic cooperation and development, in support to the National Government Agenda for Peace and Development.

Mission

To eradicate

  • poverty,
  • environmental degradation, and
  • inadequate social services and infrastructure facilities

within the local government units covered by the DIDP.

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Milestones

1994

  • The first Memorandum of Agreement was signed on July 15, 1994 among the Local Chief Executives of Davao City, Davao del Sur and Davao Province. This was amended on October 7 of the same year to include the Province of Davao Oriental.

1995

  • The DIDP Board submitted a proposal to NEDA for the conduct of the DIDP Master Planning Study.
  • Pursued the proposal to the level of the Government of Japan (GOJ) thru Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

1996

  • JICA sent Scoping Mission to Davao City.
  • GOJ thru JICA approved the proposal for a technical cooperation in the conduct of the DIDP Master Planning Study.

1997

  • JICA sent a Preparatory Team to DIDP.
  • Implementing arrangement was signed between JICA Representative and DIDP Local Chief Executives.
  • Commencement of the DIDP Master Planning Study.

1998

  • The Memorandum of Agreement was again amended in July 22, 1998 to include Compostela Valley and the component cities of Davao del Norte: Tagum City and Island Garden City of Samal.

1999

  • DIDP Master Plan was officially completed and approved by JICA and thereafter transmitted to the DIDP Board.
  • President Joseph Estrada signed Executive Order # 144 dated August 23, 1999 “Establishing the Coordinative and Integration Mechanism for the Implementation of the Davao Integrated Development Program” which further mandated the DIDP to promote harmonious working relationship and maintain an effective coordination and integration mechanism among the development players in the DIDP area.
  • The DIDP Integrated Food Security Program (DIDP IFSP) was allocated P100 Million by the National Government for the implementation of Farm-to-Market Roads and Small Irrigation Development projects. Another P10 Million was appropriated for the operations of the Project Management Office.

2000

  • In March 2001, the Memorandum of Agreement was further Amended to include newly created components cities, namely Panabo of Davao del Norte and Digos of Davao del Sur.
  • Another P100 Million was allocated for DIDP for its IFSP.

2003

  • The DIDP IFSP was adopted as one of the Locally Funded Projects of the Department of Agriculture.

2005

  • DIDP submitted the concept paper for the Local Governance and Rural Empowerment Project (LGREP) to JICA under its Technical Cooperation Program. The proposed project aims to strengthen the local government units of the DIDP in delivering efficient and effective services to its constituents.
  • JICA dispatched its Project Formulation Study Team to Davao Region on June 2005. The project objective was re-focused to the improvement of the delivery of water supply services by the DIDP member-LGUs.

2006

  • JICA dispatched the Preliminary Evaluation Team for LGREP.

2007

  • Implementing Agreement for LGREP was signed by the DIDP Local Chief Executives.
  • Commencement of LGREP on July 2007.
  • In August 2007, the Memorandum of Agreement was amended for the 6th time to include the newly created component city of Mati of the Province of Davao Oriental. The financial contribution of the provincial LGUs was also increased to P500,000 per year while those of the component city LGUs remained the same at P300,000 per year.

2010

  • The LGREP was completed on July 2010.

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