The Regional Spatial Development Framework (RSDF) 2015-2045 (2020 Update), approved and adopted through Regional Development Council (RDC) XII Resolution No. 138, series of 2021, provides the overall direction for the physical development of SOCCSKSARGEN. The integration of the RSDF into the Regional Development Plan (RDP) provides the spatial dimension to the sectoral development plan.
The RSDF shall also provide general guidance to the provinces in the formulation/updating of their Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plans (PDPFPs) or the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) for General Santos City, the lone Highly Urbanized City (HUC) of Region XII, to promote consistency and complementation of national, regional and local policies, programs and projects.
As the blueprint for the current and future physical development of SOCCSKSARGEN, the updated RSDF identifies the hierarchy of settlements to bring about an efficient network of growth centers, production centers, and service delivery systems consistent with sustainable use of land and other natural resources complemented by disaster risk reduction, and climate change adaptation strategies.
It also embodies policies for infrastructure and utilities development, the distribution of population and the location of employment, and other critical socio-economic activities at the regional scale, to achieve physical and economic integration not only within the SOCCSKSARGEN region but also with neighboring regions in Mindanao.
The long-term spatial framework is anchored on the three interrelated areas of the National Spatial Strategy (NSS), namely: regional agglomeration, connectivity, and vulnerability reduction. Thus, the RSDF’s key areas directly support inclusive growth, which requires economic growth, employment generation, poverty alleviation, and reducing vulnerabilities.