Regional Development Council (RDC-9) Chairman and Mayor John Dalipe presides over the 184th Regular Meeting of the ZamPen’s highest planning and policy-making body Friday, Sept. 13, at the Garden Orchid Hotel, this city.
During the meeting, the RDC members approved Resolution No. 012 series of 2024, urging the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA-9) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA-9) to provide the august body with a comprehensive information on ZamPen being the country’s Top 1 with the Highest Poverty Incidence in 2023.
This, as preliminary estimates for 2023 showed that the region of Zamboanga Peninsula had the highest poverty incidence among families in the Philippines at 24.2 percent [No. 1], followed by BARMM at No. 2 with 23.5%, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor at No. 3 with 22.6%, and Bicol Region at No. 3 with 20.3%.
In comparison, the National Capital Region (NCR) had the lowest poverty incidence among families during the period. Overall, the total poverty incidence of families in the Philippines was 10.9%.
Meanwhile, the RDC-9 has also endorsed the P35 billion proposed projects and activities for 2025-2028 as submitted by the different local government units and agencies in the region. It was further manifested during the meeting that regular members of RDC must personally attend the body’s meetings, noting that representatives cannot decide for and on behalf of their agencies/LGUs. (Vic Larato)
(Source: City Government of Zamboanga Facebook page)