BY FRANCINE ALYXIA PALMES/CMU Intern
THE REGIONAL Development Council (RDC) XI said prices might have stabilized for now, but they have yet to trickle down to the families.
During the Habi at Kape forum on Wednesday, July 8, Arturo M. Milan, RDC XI chair, said it will take the families some time to feel the effects that the private sector and government are doing to improve their lives.
“We, in the RDC, are working for poverty incidents to reach a single digit between the range of seven to eight percent, hopefully in the next two years,” he said.
According to Milan, politics played a big part in the sluggish showing of Davao’s economy. He also cited governance and the need to simplify processes like digitalizing applications for a better and faster processing of papers.
He also cited the need to empower and encourage the micro, small and medium businesses, which make up 99% of the country’s registered companies and contribute 40% to the country’s gross domestic product.
The RDC is advocating for the online processing of permits to help ease business processing.
Engr. Maria Victoria Placer, Davao Trade and Industry XI Davao del Sur director, said the agency launched IRegIS in July this year, which is an online registration for service and shop accreditation, business name application, and sales promotion for establishments.
The initiative allows businesses to transact or pay online through GCash or other payment gateways. She hoped to digitalize the other processes to help MSMEs in the region.
