KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- SOCCSKSARGEN Region’s Regional Development Council (RDC) kicked off the RDC Week celebration on Thursday, September 28, with the unveiling of the Directory and Locator Map of the Prime Regional Government Center (PRGC) in Barangay Carpenter Hill, this city.

The directory and locator map, positioned at the entrance of the PRGC, was envisioned by the RDC and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) XII secretariat and constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) XII.

NEDA XII Regional Director Teresita Socorro Ramos said the marker “will also help our transacting public in locating the specific offices here in PRGC."

Offices located inside the PRGC are: Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), Technical Education and Skills Authority (TESDA), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB), and DENR-Environment Management Bureau (DENR-EMB).

Also inside are the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), Department of Trade and Industry, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Department of Agriculture (DA), Civil Service Commission (CSC), National Housing Authority (NHA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and Bureau of Treasury (BTr).

Construction of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the PRC Testing Center is underway.

On the pipeline are building construction projects for the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

Director Ramos emphasized further that the marker symbolizes the promotion of harmonious relationships between and among the regional offices of the national government agencies as well as the private sector in Region 12.

“This is a very important symbol because we aim to have a coordinated development approach as we aim to make SOCCSKSARGEN a prosperous, inclusive, resilient region,” RD Ramos said.

Koronadal City was designated as the regional center and administrative seat of the SOCCSKSARGEN Region by virtue of Executive Order No. 304 issued by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on March 30, 2004.

SOCCSKSARGEN Region is composed of the provinces of South Cotabato, Cotabato Province, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani, as well as the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, and Kidapawan. (DED - PIA SOCCSKSARGEN)