The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), as mandated by the Philippine Constitution, is the country’s independent economic development and planning agency. It is headed by the President as chairman of the NEDA board, with the Secretary of Socio-Economic Planning, concurrently NEDA Director-General, as vice-chairman. All Cabinet members, as well as the Central Bank Governor, are members of the NEDA Board.

 

The NEDA Regional Office (NRO) XII is one of the offices under NEDA's Regional Development Office (RDO).  It serves as the secretariat of the Regional Development Council (RDC) XII, which is the highest policy-making body in the region.

NRO XII is located at RDC Building, Regional Government Center compound,  Governor Gutierrez Avenue, Barangay Rosary Heights No. 9, Cotabato City.  It seats on a 3,000 square meters land area donated by the defunct Lupong Tagapagpaganap ng Pook (LTP) under the leadership of the former LTP Chair Alibashir M. Lucman. It covers a floor area of approximately 1,530 square meters which houses the NEDA Regional Office XII, the RDC XII Secretariat.

As of 30 September 2005, the NEDA Regional Office XII is composed of forty-eight (48) personnel. Seventeen (17) of the NRO XII personnel have taken up post graduate units while thirteen (13) have earned master's degree in various fields such as economics, public administration, urban and regional planning, educational management, statistics, mathematics, and guidance and counseling. Only two employees have earned PhD units. Seven (7) personnel are college graduates and four (4) are college under graduates. Three (3) employees, are high school graduates but have completed some vocational courses in automotive and electrical repair and secretarial. Of the twenty nine (29) technical personnel, 13.79% or four employees were recipients of the Scholarship Program in Development Economics.
 

THE NEDA XII MISSION

The NEDA Regional Office XII upholds the highest standards of efficiency, excellence and professionalism and the ideals of integrity, morality and equity; 

Together with the members of the Regional Development Office, the Regional Office XII commits itself to the mission of formulating regional plans and investment programs, and maintaining an information system that effectively assists our stakeholders in making policies/decisions that promote sustainable development and ensure the attainment of national goals. 

Guided by the principles of private initiative, decentralization and people empowerment, the office shall advocate for a meaningful regional development strategy based on realistic assessment of potentials and opportunities with consciousness on the preservation of Central Mindanao's rich cultural heritage while propelled by the vision of the Philippines 2000.

In all endeavors, the office adheres to the tenets of public ethics, and shall exemplify the values that form part of our identity: our abiding faith in God, our firm commitment to excellence, our deep concern for the professional growth, material and spiritual well-being of every member of the organization, and our enduring love for family and country.

The NRO XII MANCOM is headed by Hadja Sittie Mariam (Ma. Lourdes) D. Lim. 

Ms. Lim is the incumbent Regional Director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Office XII, based in Cotabato City. Prior to this assignment, she had been the Assistant Regional Director of the same office for six (6) years (1990-1996). Her academic preparation/field of discipline essentially focused on economics, beginning with an undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Arts, major in Economics) from the Ateneo de Davao University. This basic educational exposure was substantially enhanced by her attendance to the 15th session of the Training Program in Development Economics at the University of Philippines' School of Economics, where she also pursued her graduate studies. In 1984, she obtained her Master of Arts in Economics, in the same institution. She is likewise a candidate for Doctor of Philosophy in Economics at the State University. Her professional experience include the following fields of economics: public sector policy; monetary policy; urban and regional development; quantitative/statistical/econometric analysis and macroeconomic theory and policy. Director Lim has been a career civil service professional since 1978. In 1995, she was appointed as a Career Executive Service Officer, Rank III, to the third level positions in government. In October 1996, she was designated to head the Special Development Planning Task Group (SDPTG), an inter-agency body tasked to initiate the formulation of the Integrated Development Framework and Public Investment Program, 1977-1999; the development blueprint for the Special Zone of Peace and Development (SZOPAD), to support the peace and development process in Southern Philippines. She was also appointed by the President of the Philippines as a member of the Consultative Assembly of the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development, where she chairs the Committee on Planning.

Teresita Socorro C. Ramos is the incumbent Assistant Regional Director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Office No. XII, based in Cotabato City, with the rank of a Career Executive Service Officer (CESO) IV. A consistent student of the College of Arts and Sciences, she finished her Bachelor of Arts (AB) in Sociology at the Notre Dame University in 1979, and graduated as Magna Cum Laude. In 1990, she also completed here Master of Arts in Public Administration from the same university, with the honor of Benemeritus.

Prior to her appointment as Assistant Regional Director in 26 January 1999, she was the Division Chief of the Social Development Division (SDD) of NRO XII for a period of four years from 1994. With her extensive experiences at NEDA, she had developed special interest in Social Mobilization, Population and Development/Gender and Development; and, Poverty Alleviation. She had also undertaken various special and managerial trainings particularly on the preparation of Feasibility Studies; Project Development, Research Methodology; Design and Management of Development Projects; POPDEV Planning; Development Management; and Social Mobilization for Development, which enhanced and strengthened her managerial and supervisory capabilities.
NEDA Regional Office (NRO XII) has five (5) divisions namely: Macro-Intersectoral Coordination and Assistance Division (MICAD); Social Development Division (SDD); Economic Development Division (EDD); Infrastructure Development Division (IDD); and, Operations Division (OD).

Heading the Macro Intersectoral Coordination and Assistance Division (MICAD) is Ms. Phlorita A. Ridao. She has been with NEDA XII since 1989. She started as Economic Development Specialist (EDS) I at MICAD. On December 6, 2001, she was appointed to the position of Chief EDS at the same division. However, before she became the chief of MICAD, she had a short stint with the Infrastructure Development Division (IDD) for about two years as Supervising EDS.

Concurrently, Ms. Ridao heads the Management Information Systems Unit (MISU) of NRO XII. The MISU is tasked to coordinate matters related to information and communications technology development of the office, as well as, of the region through the RITECC of RDC XII.

Inherent to her position as MICAD Chief, Ms. Ridao acts as Secretary of the Macro-Economy, Development Administration and Finance Committee (MEDAFC) and the Regional Land Use Committee (RLUC) of Regional Development Council (RDC) XII.

Ms. Ridao is a Civil Engineer and a holder of Master of Statistics degree. She completed her undergraduate course from Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City in 1982 and her master's degree from University of the Philippines in Quezon City in 1988. At MSU, Ms. Ridao enjoyed the privileges of being a university full scholar.

In 1997, she participated in a Training on Population and Development at Cairo Demographic Center in Cairo, Egypt. She was also a recepient other trainings, particularly in the areas of development planning, project development, information and communications technology, economic modeling and social mobilization, among others.

Completing the MICAD Staff are Helen L. Vestal - Supervising EDS, Liberty Arumpac - Senior (Sr.) EDS, Annie Deputado - Sr. EDS, Sandra J. Alido - Sr. EDS, Romel Patrick E. Tanghal- Sr. EDS, Romeo A. Salac - EDS II and Evie B. Arabis - EDS I.

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Economic Development Division (EDD)

Maria Felicidad R. Guerrero heads the Economic Development Division (EDD) of NEDA Region XII. She has a bachelor's degree in Economics from Ateneo de Davao University (1983) with merit as Honorable Mention and obtained her Master in Public Administration from Notre Dame University (1999). 

Her current assignments include acting as member of the review panel for the Project Development Assistance Center, RLUC-TWG and MRDP Subproject Appraisal Committee. In 2000 to 2001, she was the Project Coordinator for the AusAID-AGSIP-funded project on “Strengthening Program Coordination, Monitoring and Evaluation of Peace and Development Initiatives in the Special Zone of Peace and Development in Southern Philippines (SPCMES Project)”. 

She has attended specialized training in project development and appraisal, policies for economic development, public finance and regional econometric modeling. She has participated in group study exchange in the area of economic development in the USA and Canada and group training course on development policies in Tokyo, Japan allowing her to have a better perspective and appreciation of local concerns. Her work experience at NRO XII and the various training attended have improved her leadership, coordination and facilitation skills, honed her knowledge and expertise that aided in the preparation of strategic plans, project evaluation reports, feasibility study, and other technical papers. 

As a strategic planner, she contributes ideas and approaches to improve office operations. As a team player she coaches division staff to perform assignments committed to the NEDA culture of excellence. 

Under the Supervision of Ms. Guerrero are Rosa D. Lemana - Supervising EDS, Usop M. Lalao - Sr. EDS, Peter Michael Babao - Sr. EDS, Guillermo R. Manrique, Jr. - Sr. EDS, Mohidin T. Mustapa - Sr. EDS, and, Amor Antonietta Aurora C. Sevillano - EDS I.

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Social Development Division (SDD)

Mae Ester T. Guiamadel is the incumbent Division Chief of the Social Development Division (SDD) of NEDA Regional Office XII, Cotabato City. Prior to joining NEDA Regional Office XII in July 1983 as Economic Development Specialist, she was connected with then Small Business Assistance Center (SBAC) of the Ministry of Industry based in Cotabato City in various technical positions from 1980-1983. 

She obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration major in Accountancy at MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) in Iligan City in 1980. In 1999, she completed her Master's Degree in Public Administration major in Governmental Management at Notre Dame University, Cotabato City with a grade of Meritus under the Local Scholarship Program (LSP) of the Civil Service Commission.

In 1993, she was a recipient of the British Technical Cooperation Award and studied at the Center for Fiscal Studies, University of Bath, United Kingdom under the Short Course Program in Public Finance. Ms. Guiamadel also participated in managerial enhancement trainings such as the Supervisory Development Course-Track 1 of the Civil Service Commission and Development Manager's Training Course, among others. She has also participated in relevant technical trainings under the sponsorship of NEDA.

With her extensive experience and relevant trainings, her areas of specialization have been developed along Governance and Institutions Development, as well as Social Development to particularly include Social Assessment in Project Evaluation, Poverty Reduction Planning, Regional/Provincial Physical Framework Planning, Project Development, Development Planning, Training Design and Implementation, among others. 

The other SDD personnel Juliet G. Bolando - Supervising EDS, Juliet C. Demellites - Sr. EDS, Eden F. Ridao - Sr. EDS, Desiree T. Jacinto - EDS II and Ms. Janice May A. Cerezo - EDS II.
 

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Infrastructure Development Division (IDD)

The incumbent Division Chief of the Infrastructure Development Division (IDD) of NRO XII is Nemerlito D. Perez. He holds Bachelor Degrees in Civil Engineering, Geodetic Engineering, and Laws. He also completed his Master in Public Administration on March 1999 at Notre Dame University, Cotabato City.

He joined NEDA in 1983 as Economic Development Specialist. He has been the Chief of the IDD since June 1999.
Engr. Perez has attended trainings on Project Development and Evaluation, Integrated Population and Development Training, Regional Project Monitoring and Evaluation System Technical Training, Monitoring, Earthquake Engineering and Disaster Management and Seminar/Workshop on Statistics for Development Planners.

His areas of specialization include civil engineering, land surveying, project development and evaluation, and plumbing.

Under Engr. Perez’ supervision are the following staff: Ma. Lulu E. Valencia - Supervising EDS, Medina G. Herezo -Sr. EDS, Melchor L. Sevilla, Sr. EDS, Romeo C. Nebrija - EDS II. 

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Operations Division (OD)

Ms. Julie Esperanza B. Chung is the Administrative Officer V, of the Operations Division of NEDA Regional Office XII. She finished her Bachelor of Science in Commerce major in Accounting in March 1975 at Notre Dame University. She had earned some units in the College of Law and thirty (30) units in the Master in Public Administration at the same University.

She started her public service with the Bureau of Internal Revenue District, Cotabato City in 1 April 1975 then later transferred to Philippine Amanah Bank, Cotabato Branch. In August 1976, she joined NEDA Regional Office XI, Davao City as casual employee then became a permanent staff in 1 March 1977 as Accounting Clerk. In 19 December 1977, she transferred to NEDA Regional Office XII as Accountant.

From NEDA Senior Staff Officer in 16 February 1988, she rose from the rank of Administrative Officer IV to Administrative Officer V supervising twenty-one (21) staff facilitating the administrative and financial responsibilities of this office.