RDC VI meets with Western Visayas representatives
The Advisory Committee of the Regional Development Council (RDC) Region VI chaired by Governor Salvacion Z. Perez of Antique convened its first ever consultative meeting at the Conference Room of Speaker Prospero C. Nograles at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City last December 3, 2008.
The Advisory Committee, jointly chaired by Governor Perez and House Majority Floor Leader Arthur Defensor, Sr. was called primarily to discuss the major issues and concerns in Region VI needing congressional action and the region’s major development thrusts, priorities and projects.
Mandated under Section 8 of Executive Order 325, the Advisory Committee of RDC is composed of Region VI’s Representatives in Congress and members of the RDC-VI Executive Committee. Its main purpose is to advise, assist and support the Council in discharging its functions and help push for policies and programs needing legislative action that will support regional development efforts.
It was a well attended meeting with 11 out of the 18 Representatives in Congress present, while two sent their representatives. Eight members of the RDC Executive Committee attended, headed by Chair Perez, Co-Chair Homicillada, and Vice-Chair Bacal. ASEC Raul N. Banias, Presidential Assistant for Western Visayas was also present.
Congressman Raul Del Mar of Cebu, Deputy House Speaker, represented Speaker Nograles who welcomed the group and talked about the “Importance of a Stronger Collaboration between the Regional Development Council and the Representatives of Congress.” Other resource persons included USEC Rafael Yabut of DPWH, Director Carmencita Delantar of the DBM and a representative of the RDCS of NEDA-CO.
The Region VI Congressional Representatives expressed their full support for the initiatives and planned activities of the RDC and lauded the efforts made by Governor Perez and OIC-Regional Director Bacal, along with the RDC Secretariat (NEDA-VI) for pursuing the priorities set in the Medium-Term Regional Development Plan.
The Congressional Representatives also shared their initiatives in ensuring that Region VI’s priority programs and projects are included in the General Appropriations Act. These programs and projects are designed to further spur economic growth and provide social services in the region, e.g. transport support facilities like roads, ports and airports, agricultural support infrastructures such as irrigation, and social facilities like school buildings, classrooms, hospitals, health centers, among others. They also presented the various bills they filed in Congress that are supportive of regional development.
DPWH Undersecretary Yabut and DBM Director Delantar responded to the concerns of the Representatives as regards the status of their district’s proposed projects and clarified the flow and availability of budgetary allocations.
The body decided to meet again next year with Congressman Ignacio Arroyo of Negros Occidental as host. (Atty. Raul S. Anlocotan/NEDA Region VI)