NEDA-HUDCC SIGN MOA TO IMPROVE URBAN POOR RESILIENCE
MANILA – The National Economic and
Development Authority (NEDA) and the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating
Council (HUDCC) signed an agreement creating a multi-agency group to address
concerns of urban poor communities in the country.
Signed in the presence of the NEDA
Board’s Social Development Committee – Cabinet Level on February 28, the
agreement states that the Multi-Agency Technical Assistance and Team Advisory
Group (MATATAG) will identify investment projects for said communities.
“The group is rightly called
MATATAG as it will help Filipinos achieve their long-term vision for
themselves. Investing in human development will allow people to feel secure
knowing that they are able to meet the needs of their families and their
children’s future,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said.
The group was formed after the
Asian Development Bank selected the Philippines as one of the three developing
member countries (including Indonesia and Bangladesh) to receive research and
knowledge support under a regional technical assistance (RETA) project titled
“Advancing Inclusive and Resilient Urban Development Targeted at the Urban
Poor”.
The RETA aims to enhance capacities
of governments to design and implement investment projects that strengthen the
resilience of the urban poor. Financing for the project will come from the
Urban Climate Change Resilience Trust Fund under the Urban Financing Partnership
Facility being administered by the ADB.
An amount of USD 5,000,000 will
cover the three mentioned countries.
Among others, the project will
include a country study to identify investment opportunities for the urban
poor, as well as a program for improving skills on using climate change and
disaster risk information that will benefit urban poor communities.
MATATAG will be responsible for
coordinating, monitoring, and providing strategic direction on the
implementation of the ADB RETA.
“We are grateful for ADB’s solid
support in achieving our mid-term and long-term development goals. This project
will greatly help equip the government in achieving inclusive growth through
effective and sustainable urban and rural development,” Pernia said.
The group will be chaired by NEDA
and co-chaired by HUDCC. Its members include the Department of the Interior and
Local Government; Department of Environment and Natural Resources; Department
of Public Works and Highways; Department of Social Welfare and Development;
National Anti-Poverty Commission; Climate Change Commission; Office of Civil
Defense; and the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor.
M.R. No. 2019-021
March 6, 2019
