Reorganization of RDC VI set on August 8, 2007
After three years, the Regional Development Council (RDC) of Region VI will once again be reorganized as mandated by Executive Order 325. The reorganizational meeting is set on August 8, 2007 at the Iloilo Grand Hotel, Iloilo City.
The main agenda of the meeting is the selection of nominees for the RDC VI Chairperson and co-Chairperson who will serve until 2010, and the election of chairpersons and co-chairpersons for the different sectoral committees. Under the law, the RDC submits two names from the member local elective officials and two names from the private sector representatives as nominees for chairperson and co-chairperson of the council. The President of the Philippines appoints the officers from among the list as submitted by the RDC.
The present officers of RDC VI are Antique Governor Salvacion Z. Perez as chairperson and Mr. Wilfredo Homicillada of the Process Foundation as co-chairperson. They were appointed by President Gloria M. Arroyo in 2004. The regional director of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) serves as permanent vice-chairperson of the council. Neda Regional Office VI located at Fort San Pedro, Iloilo City serves as the permanent Secretariat of the council. Presently, Assistant Regional Director Arturo G. Valero is the officer-in-charge of the office.
The present RDC was reorganized through Executive Order 325 issued by Pres. Fidel V. Ramos in 1996 primarily for purposes of administrative decentralization to strengthen the autonomy of the local government units and to accelerate the socio-economic development of the regions. Article X, Section 14 of the Constitution provides that the President shall create RDCs and other similar bodies composed of local government officials, regional heads of departments and other government offices and representatives from non-government organizations within the regions.
RDC VI covers the Western Visayas region which is composed of six provinces and two highly urbanized cities. The region is the fourth biggest economy in the country and the biggest outside of Luzon. It is the country's premier producer of rice, sugarcane and fishery products. It is also a favorite tourist destination in the country today.
The meeting on August 8, 2007 will be very crucial as only those present will be able to nominate the officers of the RDC. The next RDC chairperson will most likely come from one of the governors or city mayors of Western Visayas region but any private sector representatives can have an even chance of being nominated by the body and eventually appointed to the position. Several years ago, Engr. Ramon Hechanova from the private sector served as RDC chair for one term.