RDC-6 set to accredit Private Sector representation
In anticipation of the coming-in of the new administration, the Regional Development Council-Region VI (RDC-VI), is set to reorganize its memberships roll by initiating the accreditation process for the Private Sector Representatives (PSRs) in the Council.
The RDC which is the highest planning and policy-making body in the region, serves as the counterpart of the NEDA Board at the sub-national level and is the primary institution that coordinates and sets the direction of all economic and social development efforts in the region. It also serves as a forum where local efforts can be related and integrated with regional and national development activities. The creation of RDC answers the need for a single planning body whose main concern is the overall socio-economic development of the region.
Created by Executive Order 325 (Reorganization of the Regional Development Council), the RDC is composed of all the governors, city mayors, mayors of capital towns, presidents of provincial leagues of mayors, mayors of municipalities designated as regional center, selected regional directors of government agencies, and private sector representatives, with the latter comprising one-fourth of the membership of the fully constituted Council.
A “private sector representative” refers to a person representing the non-government sector who may be an active member of the following private sector organizations (PSO): non-government organizations (NGOs), business groups, or professional organizations and civic clubs.
It has been the policy of the RDC to promote private sector participation in its development efforts particularly in the area of planning, investment, programming, budgeting, monitoring and programs/projects identification and prioritization. The participation of representatives from the private sector and non-government organizations is deemed crucial in the development of the region as they bring in their views and sentiments about socio-economic issues and concerns, as well as, policies that affect the region.
In order to ensure a wider range of private sector representation to the Council for CY 2010-2013, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) VI, serving as the RDC VI’s Secretariat, has convened an orientation meeting last June 8, 2010 for PSRs as a prelude to the upcoming PSR Convention in July 2010 where accredited private sector organizations will elect officials from among their ranks for the membership to the Council, its sectoral and special committees.
NEDA VI Regional Director Ro-Ann Bacal encourages potential private sector/non-government organizations with proven track record in Western Visayas, to submit their application papers to the NEDA VI secretariat for processing, and once accredited, to become dynamic partners in the development processes of the region with the end-view of ensuring that their perspectives on regional issues, policies and program/project proposals are heard and taken into consideration by decision-makers..
So far, a total of 16 NGOs have submitted their application documents to the NEDA VI secretariat. For more inquiries, please feel free to contact the Secretariat at (033) 335-1070/ 336-9669 or at email address: nro6@skyinet.net. Application forms for accreditation are available at NEDA VI Regional Office, Fort San Pedro, Iloilo City. (NEDA-6)
