Council to spearhead crafting of Region 6 medium-term plan
Massive consultations with stakeholders in Western Visayas are expected in the coming months in connection with the crafting of the Medium-Term Regional Development Plan.
Director Ro-Ann Bacal of the National Economic and Development Authority 6 said the preparation will be spearheaded by the Regional Development Council.
Although the region’s highest policy-making body has yet to nominate its intended chair and co-chair, NEDA is initially the action.
Bacal said the creation of the MTRDP aims to translate the national government’s priorities “into our regional plan, not to minimize the importance also of looking at our very own priorities.”
“After every administration, we prepare a MTRDP covering the term of the President. We have already been provided with the development thrusts and priorities of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III and the national government is now preparing for the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) crafted by various departments,” she said.
She said the broad-based consultation will involve other agencies, especially front line agencies, to identify the region’s priority concerns.
“Priority concerns will emanate from various consultations with the private sector, non-government organizations and business sector, among others, to really reflect our priorities for the next six years,” she added.
To kick off, Bacal said they will set up planning committees to coincide with the tentative plan chapters provided by the national government.
Bacal said that President Aquino is looking forward to the completion of the MTPDP by the end of the year and immediately kick-off with its implementation.
The MTPDP will have for its accompaniments the MTRDP of all regions, including that of Western Visayas.
“We expect him to sign the plan by January,” she said.*PNA
