GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/19 September) — The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) will establish in nearby Koronadal City by next year its fourth regional office in Mindanao.
Arturo Valero, acting chair of the Regional Development Council (RDC) of Region 12, said PRC Chairperson Teresita Manzala approved recently the opening a regional office in Koronadal City in response to a request submitted by the council last year.
He said Manzala directed officials of its regional office in Davao City to facilitate the establishment of the new regional office.
“(PRC) has already allotted funds for this so we expect some movements soon,” Valero told MindaNews.
The official said PRC-Davao personnel visited Koronadal City earlier this month to discuss their plans with the RDC-12.
He said they initially explored several options for the leasing of an office space that will host the new regional office.
The PRC personnel also inquired about the possibility of establishing a permanent regional office at the Region 12 government center site in Barangay Carpenter Hill in Koronadal City, he said.
“There are still available lots at the regional government center and we offered our assistance for the negotiation with the city government of Koronadal should they decide to set up an office there,” he said.
The local government of Koronadal owns and maintains the regional government center, which now hosts several regional line offices and departments.
These include the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Mines and Geosciences Bureau.
The Department of Labor and Employment and the National Economic and Development Authority are currently working on the construction of their office buildings at the site.
RDC-12 passed a resolution in June last year requesting the PRC to establish a regional office in Koronadal City, which is the regional seat and center of Region 12.
Also known as Soccsksargen, the region comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong Kidapawan and Cotabato.
PRC has 10 regional offices but only three are located in Mindanao, specifically in the cities of Pagadian, Davao and Cagayan de Oro.
“Soccsksargen is among the regions in the Philippines that does not have a PRC office. Professional individuals in the region presently travel to Davao City for their licensing or renewal of licenses,” the resolution said.
The council added that the opening of a PRC regional office in Region 12 will greatly benefit local professionals, especially through reduced travel time and costs in securing and renewing their professional licenses. (MindaNews)