DEPDev Caraga

24/08/2026

𝐍𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐃𝐞𝐯 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐚 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

On July 30, 2026, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Regional Office Caraga turned policy into practice at the DEPDev Caraga Conference Hall in Butuan City. Celebrating the 52nd National Nutrition Month (NNM), the agency hosted a learning session and sustainable cooking challenge under the national theme: “𝑺𝒂 𝑷𝑷𝑨𝑵: 𝑺𝒂𝒎𝒂-𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒂 𝒔𝒂 𝑵𝒖𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑺𝒂𝒑𝒂𝒕 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒂 𝒔𝒂 𝑳𝒂𝒉𝒂𝒕! 𝑵𝒖𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒚𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒕 𝑲𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒂𝒔𝒂𝒏, 𝑨𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑷𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒂𝒏.”

The event gathered 42 participants, including officials, technical personnel, and administrative staff of the agency, to explore how human health, food security, and environmental stewardship intersect.

The day kicked off with an opening remarks delivered by Chief Economic Development Specialist Graziella C. Cultura on behalf of Regional Director Gemima A. Olam. Resource speaker Leah Vina P. Vargas, Nutrition Officer III from the National Nutrition Council (NNC) Caraga, delivered a thematic talk highlighting how climate change, agricultural sustainability, and nutrition-sensitive food systems are mutually reinforcing concepts within the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) 2023–2028.

To seal the commitment to individual and institutional change, participants concluded the talk by reciting the Official 2026 NNM Pledge.

Translating theoretical understanding into a hands-on experience, the staff participated in the Sustainable Cooking Challenge. Nine teams competed in a multi-round cook-off involving menu planning, strategizing, and zero-waste preparation techniques using locally sourced ingredients.

Beyond an internal wellness and capacity-building initiative, DEPDev Caraga's 2026 NNM Learning Session directly supports several key chapters and priority strategies outlined in the Caraga Regional Development Plan 2023–2028 Midterm Update. Among them is the activity’s contribution to Chapter 6.1: Ensure Food Security and Proper Nutrition & Chapter 4.1: Boost Health.

By deepening planners' understanding of nutrition-sensitive interventions and climate-resilient food systems under the PPAN 2023–2028 framework, the activity equips regional development planners to design interventions aimed at reducing malnutrition and strengthening health outcomes across Caraga. The activity also supports Chapter 16: Accelerate Climate Action and Strengthen Disaster Resilience with emphasis on sustainable food consumption, waste minimization, and natural resource conservation which highlights the direct impact of environmental conditions on food availability and community resilience.

Caraga’s overall development strategy, i2FAME (Industrialize and Innovate Fishery, Agri-Forestry, Mining, and Eco-Tourism), relies heavily on sustainable agriculture and food value chains. Educating development workers on sustainable food preparation models reinforces the regional drive toward sustainable agribusiness and resource management.

20/08/2026

20/08/2026

🔔 The countdown begins!

The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) is gearing up for the 24th Development Policy Research Month (DPRM) this September 2026. 🏛️

This year's theme is "Building Strong Institutions, Unlocking Human Capital Potential" ("Matatag na Institusyon, Maunlad na Yamang Tao") which will explore how fragmented governance, regulatory uncertainty, and weak public-private coordination hold back investment in education, health, and other services that build the country's human capital.

𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 — 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝟮𝟰𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗣𝗥𝗠 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘄!

💡 Visit dprm.pids.gov.ph for more information or stay tuned to PIDS' social media channels as we roll out our lineup of activities, what the theme is about, and how you can participate in promoting the importance of research and knowledge-sharing in policymaking, Philippine development, and economic transformation.

13/08/2026

DEPDev Caraga trains staff, agencies, LGUs on impact evaluation to strengthen evidence-based policymaking

The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Caraga staff, with representatives from the regional line agencies and local government units (LGUs), recently strengthened their capacity to assess whether public programs and projects are delivering their intended results during a four-day Impact Evaluation Training-Workshop organized by DEPDev Caraga on August 4–7, 2026, in Butuan City.

Organized by DEPDev Caraga, the workshop focused on using impact evaluation as a tool for evidence-based decision-making to help policymakers determine whether programs and projects should be continued, scaled up, redesigned, or phased out based on credible data.

Participants were introduced to key evaluation frameworks, including the National Evaluation Policy Framework (NEPF), theory of change, causal inference, ethical requirements, and various impact evaluation methodologies.

Leading the discussions were experts from DEPDev and the academe, including OIC-Assistant Director Maria Sherinna Ysabel S. Jose of the DEPDev Monitoring and Evaluation Staff; Dr. Roperto S. Deluna, Jr.; Dr. Michael L. Ayala; and Ms. Rizamae S. P***n of the Socio-Economic Research and Data Analytics Center (SERDAC) Mindanao and the College of Applied Economics (CAEc) of the University of Southeastern Philippines.

Beyond lectures, participants gained hands-on experience in applying impact evaluation concepts through practical exercises using R software. They also worked on developing impact evaluation proposals for selected government programs and projects, allowing them to identify appropriate evaluation methods and key components of an evaluation design.

The workshop forms part of DEPDev Caraga’s continuing efforts to build the impact evaluation capacity of government institutions in the Region and promote evidence-based development planning, policymaking, and investment programming.

13/08/2026

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞!

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 (𝐒𝐎𝐕) 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧!

Know a Caraganon volunteer or organization whose bayanihan spirit, dedication, and meaningful service have empowered communities and created lasting impact? Nominate them and let their story of service inspire others! 🤝

💙Volunteerism is development in action. By mobilizing people, communities, organizations, LGUs, and institutions to work together, we help advance the goals of the Caraga Regional Development Plan (RDP) 2023–2028 toward a more inclusive, resilient, and prosperous Caraga.

🏆 Categories: Youth • Adult • Non-Profit • Corporate • Volunteer Lifetime Achievement • LGU • HEI

📂 You may download the nomination forms and other SOV resources here:
https://bit.ly/SOV2026PublicFiles

📝 Submit your nominations here: https://forms.gle/iwDRbyhjR1fi2HUD6

📅 Deadline for Submission of Nominations: 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

Let’s recognize the people who turn bayanihan into meaningful change and help build the Caraga we aspire for. 💙

05/08/2026

31/07/2026

29/07/2026

𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜-𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬

The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Caraga, in partnership with the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center, successfully kicked off Module 1 of the Capacity-Building Series on Local PPP Project Development held last July 27–28, 2026 in Butuan City.

The two-day activity brought together representatives from Provincial and City local government units (LGUs) across Caraga, with the City Government of Cotabato joining virtually. Participants gained valuable insights on the Philippine PPP Program; the PPP Code and its Implementing Rules and Regulations; and local PPP project identification, prioritization, and screening.

During the workshop, participants presented their initial PPP project concepts and received technical feedback, expert insights, and strategic recommendations from PPP Center Director Feroisa Francisca T. Concordia, Director Raphael M. Badillo, and Training Specialist III Cielo A. Regalado. These valuable inputs will help participants in further refining their PPP project proposals.

As the first of a three-module training series, the activity reinforces DEPDev Caraga's commitment to equip LGUs with the knowledge and skills necessary in developing bankable and impactful PPP projects that will improve public service delivery and accelerate regional development.

Together, we are building stronger partnerships for a more progressive Caraga.

27/07/2026

𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐃𝐞𝐯 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐋𝐆𝐔 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞-𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠

The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Regional Office Caraga conducted a four-day Training on Applied Economics for Policy and Development (Part 1) from July 20 to 23, 2026, at Hotel Oazis, Butuan City.

With Professor Jefferson A. Arapoc of the Department of Economics, University of the Philippines Los Baños, serving as the resource person and subject matter expert, the training brought together DEPDev Caraga personnel and representatives from the provincial and city local government units (LGUs) across the region. Through interactive discussions and practical applications, participants deepened their understanding of fundamental economic principles, including economic decision-making, market dynamics, efficient allocation of scarce resources, budget analysis, and public sector economics.

To reinforce the concepts and analytical tools presented during the training, participants engaged in a series of practical exercises focused on applying economic principles to real-world policy and development issues. These include exercises on raising government revenues during a fiscal crisis; diagnosing the Philippine economy in times of crisis; comparing National Expenditure Program to the General Appropriations Act: What Changed for Caraga; and preparation of the Theory of Change.

The activity marks the first of the three-part training series on Applied Economics for Policy and Development under the continuing capacity-building initiatives of DEPDev Regional Office Caraga and the Caraga Regional Development Council. The series will continue with Part 2 later in 2026, followed by Part 3 in 2027.

Log on to https://dro13.depdev.gov.ph/ for more development updates.

16/07/2026

The 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲, 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 (𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐃𝐄𝐯) 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐚 joins the nation in celebrating the 𝟒𝟖𝐭𝐡 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 (𝐍𝐃𝐑𝐖) from 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟏𝟕 – 𝟐𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, pursuant to Proclamation No. 597 s. 2024.

NDRW aims to ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities (PWDs), while promoting respect for their inherent dignity.

This year’s theme, “𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭, 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 - 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭,” underscores the collective commitment to building a more inclusive society through strengthened policies, collaborative action, and the removal of barriers that hinder the full participation of PWDs in all aspects of development.

This observance also supports the Caraga Regional Development Plan 2023–2028 Midterm Update, particularly its commitment to promoting inclusive, resilient, and people-centered development by ensuring equitable access to opportunities, social protection, and essential services for vulnerable sectors, including persons with disabilities. It reinforces the Region's goal of empowering every Caraganon to participate meaningfully in social, economic, and civic life.

NCDA website: www.ncda.gov.ph
page: fb.com/nationalcouncilondisabilityaffairs