Senate passes MEDA bill
The Senate passed the Mindanao Economic Development Authority (MEDA) bill. The bill will become a permanent agency that will integrate Mindanao’s socio-economic development.
Senate Bill 3496 or MEDA bill was unanimously approved on third reading and the Senators agreed to adopt House Bill 6958, the counterpart bill approved by Congress on 16 November, as the final version.
The passage of the MEDA bill will pave the way for the creation of a permanent Mindanao body that will integrate and harmonize peace and development efforts in Mindanao. It has also been pushed in view of the need for Mindanao to catch up with the mainstream national development.
General provisions of the MEDA proposal seek to strengthen the existing Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) by converting it into a permanent MEDA.
Established in 1992 through EO 512, MEDCo operates as the only existing Mindanao-wide government mechanism that provides a coordinated and rationalized platform for program implementation and monitoring, investment promotion and policy advocacy for Mindanao. (MEDCo)
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