DAVAO CITY—The National Economic Development Authority (Neda)-Economic Development Committee (EDC) XI approved the recommendation of the Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Port of Davao to create a technical working group (TWG) for its logistics and investment hub project.
District Collector Erastus Sandino Austria presented the project at the recent Neda-EDC XI 4th Quarter 2022 meeting, where he showed the agency’s jurisdiction at the Davao International airport and seaport facilities.
The EDC reviewed the draft Regional Development Plan (RDP) 2023-2028 to improve its strategy framework towards revitalizing different industries and reducing the region’s poverty rate.
At the end of the meeting, the EDC recommended that BOC Davao be a part of Neda-EDC’s work, the BOC information office said.
The BOC had sought support and technical assistance from different government agencies in pursuing its logistics project “to strengthen the business environment of the Davao Region and improve its economic performance.”
The BOC Davao said it also planned to recommend the same project in Region XII, or the Soccsksargen Region, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao ports.
Last week, the BOC-Port of Davao also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) to enhance customs administration.
The MOU seeks to improve the skills and knowledge of Customs Davao’s personnel through customized training, programs, and technical assistance, to help the Office be more efficient and responsive to demands of stakeholders and the economy.
“Plans for restructuring, rightsizing, and intervention in learning and development programs are already at work in line with President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.’s National Government Rightsizing Program [NGRP],” the BOC added.
The BOC said Austria and Deputy Collector for Administration Mohammad Ben-Usman signed the MOU for the BOC, and President and Chief Executive Office Engelbert Caronan, Jr. and Mindanao’s Managing Director Mark Lemuel L. Garcia represented the DAP.