IT WOULD be nice to hear that the Davao City Council has made some changes in the Local Investment Code.
Yes, with the rapid development that the city is enjoying, it is our take that the existing Investment Code is already less responsive to the needs of owners of capital. So it is only appropriate that some adjustments must be made to the code that sets policies that will effectively guide investors on what venture they can do in the fast-growing city of Southern Mindanao.
What we are looking forward to being amended as well is the City Zoning Ordinance. With the construction of passable roads leading to the highlands connecting Davao City to its neighboring provinces of Bukidnon and Cotabato, it is only logical that some areas off-limits to certain kinds of industries and other development intentions be looked into.
At the same time, though, it is our take that in making changes in the Zoning Ordinance, the city’s environmental condition must be strictly considered. After all, what is development for if in attaining the same means, allowing the fast deterioration of the city’s ecological and environmental condition?
One area that we feel the existing zoning status should be seriously looked into is the one where the twin tunnels of the soon-to-be-completed bypass road exit in Biao Matina, going to Tacunan, then to the Mintal area in the city’s third district.
We are certain that for now, the area is agricultural. But when the bypass road is finished and opened to traffic, the strong likelihood is that many investors will be salivating for a slice of space in the area for locating their factories and/or plants.
So, this early (or maybe this late?), our City’s Planning Department Office has to start coordination meetings with the City Council as well as conduct consultative activities with landowners in the concerned area.
Of course, our observations in the past years are that many of our local lawmakers prefer to do “spot zoning” or re-zoning when applicant businesses come. As to why, we can only imagine.
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It is some kind of fulfilling a moral obligation for Davao City to give P1 million cash assistance to four provinces badly hit by typhoon Uwan in the Luzon Island and In Eastern Visayas region.
Yes, it really is very hard to imagine provinces like Kalinga, Albay, Pangasinan, and Northern Samar being hit again only months after the previous devastating weather condition steamrollered the provinces.
There was so much destruction during the typhoons prior to Uwan, and again, all economic endeavors in the mentioned provinces were virtually curtailed after the latest cyclone slammed. Agriculture, which is the primary source of livelihood for many families in the areas, was devastated once more.
Infrastructures were damaged again even before these were repaired. And with the Provinces’ fast-depleting financial resources due to requests for assistance from constituents, it becomes conscience-burdening for the leaders of local governments that appear to have all the luck because of the absence of nature-emanating calamities like storms, earthquakes, and flash floods in their jurisdictions.
Thus, for Davao City, whose officials pride themselves on serving a debt-free local government, to share its resources with other luckless provinces, it is a heartfelt compliance with one unwritten responsibility. And it is a source of pride for all of the city’s population to know that they have officials who cannot afford to do a “Nero” of the old Roman Empire.
That is, “Play the flute while Rome was burning.” So, again, we have every reason to be proud of being a Davaoeño.
Indeed, our local leaders – from the city mayor, down to the last councilor – deserve the population’s appreciation.
May we continue to enjoy our luck of being a storm-free – and hopefully – also a flood-free city so others less lucky get a share of Davao City’s blessings.
