Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez can be a discerning lawyer as he can be pragmatic lawmaker.

Rodriguez had originally included the obscure Partido Development Administration covering the 4th district of Camarines Sur in his “hit list’ of non-performing government enterprises,  but he promptly  struck the PDA off the list, realizing that it was doing its job and should be allowed to continue.   “PDA is an existing agency helping the people in Camarines Sur.  I now understand  that it operates a level-three water  system  supplying potable water to all 10  municipalities  in the four congressional districts of Camarines Sur. After understanding  and knowing  its operation and the good work that PDA is doing, I personally  removed it from the list of GOCCs to  be  abolished in my bill. It is doing very well,  is  an  operating  concern,  and  is  doing  good  work in CamarinesSur. The PDA is out of  the  list,  it will not be abolished,” Rodriguez recently assured radio listeners in Naga City.

Thus far, it is the only one of its kind in the country because it does not depend on the national government to fund  its  operation.

Republic Act  7820, the law  that created the PDA, allows it “to  engage  in  agriculture,  industry,  commerce or other activities  within the district  which  may  be  necessary to the socioeconomic  development of the  area  and for this purpose, whether by itself or  in  cooperation  with  private  persons or entities, to organize, finance,  invest  in, and  operate  subsidiary corporations”.

And Rodriguez is right: The PDA deserves to stay for a number of key reasons.

One, it has a complete  master  plan  with  a  mission,  vision,  goals and objectives, strategies,  and  programs  and  projects   based on careful assessment of the socio-economic conditions in the district.

Two, because it is a corporate entity authorized  to  receive  grants,  both cash and in kind, for  its  operation  and capitalization, it can effectively mobilize resources for district development and operate revenue-generating projects.

Three, it practices participatory development as it works closely with various national  government agencies, Local government units, the private sector, and  various  sectors  of  civil society.

Four, the PDA has achieved significant gains in infrastructure  development and delivery of essential social services to the people.

And five, it has contributed to raising agricultural  productivity and developing growth industries that create more job opportunities for residents.

Thus, the PDA’s track record speaks for itself.