Nine non-voting members join RDC

CEBU, Philippines -  The Regional Development Council (RDC) 7 has added at least nine agencies as special non-voting members for the term 2013-2016.

These agencies include the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7, Armed Forces of  the Philippines – Central Command, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency 7, Office of the Ombudsman for the Visayas, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) 7, Office of the Civil Defense 7, and the Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board.

The RDC confirmed the membership of the nine agencies during its last full council meeting for 2013. The nine agencies were recommended by the Development Administration Committee (DAC) and the Social Development Committee (SDC).

The SDC has also recommended the National Youth Commission (NYC) -Visayas and the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos.

“The sectoral committees believe that the participation of the aforecited agencies/offices will enrich the discussions and deliberations of the Council on issues concerning the development of the region,” RDC’s approved resolution reads.

Among the functions of the council is to coordinate the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of short and long-term regional development plans and investment programs, regional physical framework plan and special development plans, including the formulation of policy recommendations.

It also reviews, prioritizes and endorses to the national government the annual and multi-year sectoral investment programs of the region for funding and implementation.

The RDC 7 was reorganized last September 26, 2013 for the term 2013-2016 term pursuant to the Executive Order No. 325, which fixes the term of office of the chairperson, co-chairperson and private sector representatives at three years to coincide with the regular term of local elective officials.

The EO allows the RDC to designate special non-voting members subject to the concurrence of the regular members.

Earlier, too, the RDC approved the membership of the local chambers of commerce and industry in the Council as special non-voting members and in the Economic Development Committee as regular members. (FREEMAN)