The Philippine and Japanese governments inked on Friday, Nov. 10, an agreement that will ensure the sustainable urban development of Metropolitan Davao and its areas in the Davao Region.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed the Record of Discussions that will formulate a Comprehensive and Sustainable Urban Development Master Plan for Metropolitan Davao.

The master plan will serve as a roadmap for the resource mobilization and service delivery of the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority (MDDA).

It also aims to enable the partnership of the 15 local government units comprising Metropolitan Davao, which was established as a special and administrative region through the MDDA Law.

The metropolitan area is composed of the cities of Davao, Panabo, Tagum, Island Garden City of Samal, Digos, and Mati, as well as the municipalities of Sta. Cruz, Hagonoy, Padada, Malalag, Sulop, Carmen, Maco, Malita and Sta. Maria in the Davao Region.

“There is a particular need to coordinate and promote socioeconomic growth and sustainable development in Metropolitan Davao. This collective development shall serve to benefit the 3.4 million residents of the area,” NEDA Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said.

“Thus, I urge our Local Chief Executives of the fifteen LGUs to give your all-out support to this Project, as this presents a great opportunity to realize the development prospects of Metropolitan Davao, Mindanao and the Philippines, at large,” he added.

Balisacan and Sakamoto Takema, JICA’s chief representative, signed the agreement while other officials from the Japanese and Philippine governments were present as witnesses.

The master plan is in line with the Marcos administration’s goals under the Philippine Development Plan, which is to collaborate with local and national governments in the development agenda of the country.