Rama to preside RDC meeting for first time

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama will be presiding today for the first time as chairperson of the Regional Development Council during its full council meeting at Montebello Villa Hotel this city.

When he assumed chairmanship of RDC-7 last May, Rama requested the National Economic Development Authority for a strategic planning with all members to get a briefing of his function and also in preparation in presiding the meeting today.

President Benigno Aquino III selected Rama to replace the late Negros Oriental governor Augustin Perdices as RDC-7 chairman after the latter died of cancer last January 5. Rama has three years as head of the RDC, to coincide with his term as an elective official.

The RDC is composed of mayors and representatives of government agencies in Central Visayas, plus a few private sector representatives.

The council is tasked in planning development projects for the whole region.

One of the agenda to be discussed today is the dissolution of the Metro Cebu Development Council which was created by RDC in 1997 and to recognize the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board as the coordinating body for Metro Cebu.

The MCDC, which is primarily to coordinate the actions of local government units in Metro Cebu and national government agencies in dealing with common or metro-wide concerns was initially composed of the Province of Cebu; the Cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Talisay and Naga; and the Municipalities of Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Cordova and Minglanilla.

From September 2002 to July 2005, the MCDC became inactive until it was revived in August 2005 when Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia was designated as chairperson.

Following this development, the MCDC expanded its composition to include the cities of Carcar and Danao; and the Municipality of San Fernando.

The MCDC had not been fully operational even though its members were aware that Metro Cebu was being confronted with problems on urban decay due to rapid urbanization.

During its meeting on February 9, 2011, the MCDC members proposed the establishment of a MCDMB that would bind LGUs and other sectors in Metro Cebu in commitment to work together and coordinate their efforts in facing common and metro area-wide challenges through a memorandum of agreement.

On April 1, 2011, ten chief executives of LGUs; 12 heads of line agencies and other government organizations and seven heads of civil society and private sector organizations signed the agreement. —(FREEMAN)