LEGAZPI CITY – It will be President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who will now decide on who will be the next chairman or co-chairman of the Regional Development Council (RDC) in Bicol after council members nominated only Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymund F. Villafuerte, 2004-2007 RDC chair, and Albay new Governor Jose Ma. Sarte Salceda for the required two nominees for the government sector, during RDC full council meeting held at the NEDA regional office here, Tuesday, August 14.
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RDC MEETING – Five of six Bicol Governors are shown in photo at the Regional Development Council (RDC) full council meeting held Tuesday, August 14 at the NEDA Bicol regional office in Legazpi City. From left are Albay Governor Jose Ma. Sarte Salceda, Sorsogon’s Sally Lee, Camarines Sur’s Luis Raymund Villafuerte, Camarines Norte’s Jesus Typoco and Masbate’s Olga Kho. Catanduanes Governor Joseph Cua failed to attend. The Council nominated during the meeting two members each from the government and the private sectors from whom President will appoint the next RDC chair. (Boy Dado/PIA) |
Both Villafuerte and Salceda are trusted supporters of President Arroyo and it will be a tough choice for the Chief Executive who among the two will be the new Bicol RDC chair for the period 2007-2010.
On other hand, three private sector representatives (PSR) slugged it out in the voting for the required two nominees for the private sector counterpart in the RDC, both of whom may also be chosen as RDC chair or co-chair. Camarines Sur Public Sector Representative (PSR) Nicolas Beda A. Priela and Masbate PSR Rev. Leo V. Casas edged out Albay PSR Dr. Jose Estevez who had served as chair and co-chair in previous terms.
Private sector representation in the RDC in Bicol has 14 seats constituting one-fourth of the fully constituted council, pursuant to Executive Order 325. The RDC is also made up of the governors, city mayors, capital town mayors, League of Municipalities chapter chairmen and the regional heads of government offices and agencies.
Each Bicol province is allowed to nominate two PSRs to the RDC with the two other PSR seats allotted for the labor and basic sectors.
NEDA Bicol regional director Romeo C. Escandor in his capacity as the RDC vice-chair, presided the council meeting pending the appointment of the new chairman and co-chairman whose terms of office coincide with that of the newly elected local officials.
Escandor steered the council to approve and endorse all the items in the agenda consisting of the following: Proposed Development Framework and Chapters of the Updated Bicol Development Plan 2008-2010; Luzon Transport Master Plan (LTMP); Tax Exemption Privilege for Pili Growers/Landowners under the Pili Commercialization Program in the Bicol Region for Adoption by LGUs; DENR 5 Rehabilitation Plan inclusion in the Bicol Rehabilitation Program.
The council also endorsed the following proposals – Updating and Financing the Naga River Watershed Rehabilitation Plan; Master Plan for Lake Buhi and its Environs; Emergency and Educational Preparedness Program of Albay for Mayon Volcano Disaster Areas; Master Plan Update and Feasibility Study on Comprehensive Disaster Prevention for Selected Areas Around Mayon Volcano; and Disaster Prevention and Reconstruction of Region V Bridges Damaged by Typhoon Reming, all seeking assistance and funding support from the Japanese government.
The RDC also approved the proposal of the Regional Project Monitoring and Evaluation System (RPMES) to elevate to the National Project Monitoring Committee (NPMC) for appropriate action and resolution of the inquiry Report on the Pantao Port damage caused by Typhoon Milenyo.
The council also approved the composition of the RDC sectoral committees for the period CY 2007-2010.
