The 1st quarter Development Administration Committee (DAC) MIMAROPA meeting, Committee’s first face-to-face meeting post pandemic, was held last February 21 in Pasay City. 

DAC Chairperson and Calapan City Mayor Marilou F. Morillo presided over the meeting attended by 1st District Oriental Mindoro Representative Arnan C. Panaligan, Lone District Occidental Mindoro Representative Leody F. Tarriela, Occidental Mindoro Governor Eduardo B. Gadiano, and Regional Development Council (RDC)  Vice Chairperson and NEDA Regional Office in MIMAROPA Regional Director Agustin C. Mendoza, with  regional directors and heads of agencies, local government units, chiefs of staff of other MIMAROPA Congressional representatives and RDC private sector representatives (PSRs) were also present and served as panel members during the budget review. 

In her opening remarks, Mayor Morillo appealed for the support of member agencies and stakeholders in the careful scrutiny of agency budget proposals to ensure that high quality programs and projects will be endorsed to the agency central offices and Department of Budget and Management (DBM). She also emphasized the programs and projects under the development administration sector that need to be prioritized, such as the establishment of MIMAROPA Regional Government Center in Calapan City and the implementation of full devolution.​​​​​​​

The review of FY 2024 budget proposals was one of the highlights of the meeting. The regional directors and heads of nine member agencies presented their respective programs and projects proposed for FY 2024. Proposals under the development administration sector require an estimated funding requirement of PhP15.44 billion.

Meanwhile, another highlight of the meeting was the oath taking of RDC MIMAROPA Labor Sector Representative Darius M. Guerrero, newly-elected DAC co-chairperson, which was administered by Mayor Morillo.

PSR Guerrero was also recognized for his remarkable and invaluable contributions to the socioeconomic transformation and development of the region as DAC chairperson for the period CY 2019-2022.

During the meeting, the Committee also approved the CY 2023 DAC Work Program and was informed on the following: (a) Regional Committee on Devolution accomplishment report; (b) Regional Capacity Development Needs Analytics; (c) Local Government Support Fund-Support to Barangay Development Program FY 2021-2022 implementation status; (d) MIMAROPA security situation; (e) illegal drug use situation; (f) peace and order situation; (g) CY 2022 DAC accomplishment report; and (h) CY 2022 DAC summary of attendance.​​​​​​​

The 2nd quarter DAC meeting will be held on May 4, 2023. (NEDA MIMAROPA)