Regional Development Council (RDC) XII Chairperson and Cotabato Governor Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza urged government agencies and stakeholders to strengthen collaboration in planning infrastructure projects, stressing that every investment should directly improve the lives of people in SOCCSKSARGEN.
Speaking at the opening of the CY 2026 Region 12 Infrastructure Summit at Greenleaf Hotel in General Santos City on Thursday, July 23, Mendoza underscored the importance of infrastructure that promotes connectivity, public services, disaster resilience, and economic opportunities.
“Every decision we make should strengthen connectivity, improve access to services, reduce disaster risks, and create more opportunities for our people,” Mendoza said.
The summit gathered representatives from national government agencies, local government units, the private sector, civil society organizations, and other development partners to develop a comprehensive inventory of key infrastructure assets across Region 12.
These include transportation networks, flood control and disaster risk reduction facilities, irrigation systems, energy assets, and information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure.
The inventory will serve as the basis for identifying priority infrastructure projects that respond to the needs of communities and support the region’s long-term development agenda.
Mendoza emphasized that infrastructure planning should be guided by the realities on the ground and aligned with the needs of local communities.
She also called on participating agencies and stakeholders to further strengthen coordination and partnership to ensure that infrastructure investments effectively address the growing demands of residents across SOCCSKSARGEN.
According to Mendoza, closer collaboration among government institutions, local governments, and development partners is essential to delivering projects that are responsive, resilient, and beneficial to communities throughout the region.
