POPCOM XII Holds Ground Breaking Ceremony for the Regional Office Building Construction

The Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) XII in close coordination with the City Government of Koronadal and the Department of Public Works and Highways- 2nd District Engineering Office, conducted the ground breaking ceremony last March 01, 2022 at the City Hall Compound, Barangay Zone 3, General Santos Drive, City of Koronadal.

The ground breaking event was led by POPCOM Undersecretary Dr. Juan Antonio Perez III, POPCOM XII Acting Regional Director Ms. Desiree Concepcion Garganian, Koronadal City Mayor Atty. Eliordo Ogena, DPWH- 2nd District Office team represented by Project Engineer Ernesto Gundino Jr. and Architect Ephraim Vego.

Koronadal City Mayor Ogena, in his message, urged the DPWH to ensure that the construction of the POPCOM XII building will adhere to the highest standards of quality and safety. He also welcomed and thanked the POPCOM family for the transfer, as this will also result to higher economic gains for the city.

USEC Perez, on the other hand, stated that, this accomplishment so far, would not have been possible without the concerted efforts of the stakeholders involved apart from POPCOM, the City Government of Koronadal, the City Population Office, and the DPWH. He further articulated that POPCOM will continue to advocate the provision of basic family planning services in local communities as part of the essential services needed by couples and individuals. He ensured that POPCOM and its program partners will continue to empower Filipino families amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, POPCOM XII Acting RD Desiree Garganian briefly talked about the work of POPCOM in empowering SOCCSKSARGEN families and communities for the last four decades, and mentioned the need to vacate the office in Cotabato City. “Last year (2021), the urgency to transfer the regional office seemed stronger than ever. By midyear of 2021, we were happy that the budget requested for our building construction was approved and lodged in DPWH South Cotabato 2nd District Office. With this announcement, things went at lightning speed. The order was to have the project out for bidding by December as this was included in the 2021 budget of DPWH”, Acting RD Garganian remarked.

Ceremonial MOA Signing

Last February 18, POPCOM XII inked the Memorandum of Agreement with the City Government of Koronadal for the construction of the Regional Administrative Building, during the Ceremonial MOA signing held at The Farm Carpenter Hill, City of Koronadal.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod has authorized City Mayor Hon. Ogena to enter into and sign the Memorandum of Agreement, and has allocated more or less one thousand (1,000) square meters of land.

Mayor Ogena expressed that because of the strategic location of the new POPCOM XII Administrative building, the people of Koronadal and its neighboring towns and cities will be able to experience a more accessible, convenient and efficient way of doing business availing the services of POPCOM XII. With its transfer, POPCOM XII will be joining other government line agencies which have already established their regional offices in the city, the Mayor added.

The ceremonial signing was witnessed by the City and Provincial Population Officers in SOCCSKSARGEN region, and was conducted in time of the agency’s 53rd Anniversary Celebration with the theme, “Patuloy Na Nagsusulong at Naglilingkod Para Sa Planado, Protektado at Progresibong Pamilyang Pilipino”.

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