DAVAO CITY (15 September 2021) – Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) Administrator & Chief Executive Officer Abdulghani ‘Gerry’ Ajul Salapuddin has appealed today before the Senate Sub-committee on Finance, to seriously consider the proposed 2022 budget of the Authority in order for it to efficiently implement the various programs and projects at hand that best promote peace and development in Mindanao.
The Senate Committee on Finance, Sub-committee ‘C’, is under the committee chairmanship of Senator Ronald Marapon ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, a retired Police General, who is tasked to defend the proposed 2022 budgets of the following agencies: Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and its attached agencies; Department of National Defense (DND) and its attached agencies; Commission on Human Rights (CHR); Dangerous Drugs Board; Mindanao Development Authority (MINDA); Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP); Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA); and Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA).
Visibly inspired by the ongoing projects undertaken by SPDA and who is eager to see completion of these new assets before President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s term ends next year, Salapuddin said these will tremendously give impact to the lives of the local people specially the newly commenced modern and state-of-the-art poultry farm in Sulop, Davao del Sur.
Other projects currently being undertaken include the construction of SPDA Main Office in Catalunan Pequeno, Davao City, construction of the Authority’s Regional Office in Zamboanga City, and the purchase of a new office unit for SPDA’s Manila Liaison Office (MLO). Salapuddin hopes this budget would help the Authority to plan for the upcoming year and make the necessary adjustments to meet the agency’s goals. “Through sufficient budget, SPDA may be able to prioritize and put into action its plans, programs, and policies within the constraints of its financial capability”, Salapuddin said. (Celestino B. Siglos, Ed.D.)
