Aquino appoints LP members as heads of different RDCs

MANILA, Philippines - In a move to beat his self-imposed deadline of filling up all vacant government positions by the end of the year, President Aquino has appointed governors and city mayors belonging to the Liberal Party (LP) as heads of different Regional Development Councils (RDCs) nationwide.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte announced in a press briefing the other day the appointment of Albay Gov. Joey Salceda as chairman of Region 5’s RDC with Fr. Leo Casas as co-chairman.

Salceda was an ally of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who, among others, shifted their support to Aquino during the last presidential elections and joined the LP, the President’s political party.

Also named RDC chairpersons and co-chairpersons, respectively, were Capiz Gov. Victor Tanco and Ma. Luisa Segovia, Region 6; Negros Oriental Gov. Agustin Percides and Arejo Mellsimo, Region 7; Leyte Gov. Carlos Jericho Petilla and Tiburcio Morales, Region 8; Dipolog City’s Evelyn Uy and Enrico Montano, Region 9; Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz and Arsenio Sebastian III, Region 10; Mayor Sara Duterte and Vicente Lao, Region 11; General Santos City Mayor Darlene Magnolia Antonino-Custodio and Ramon Floresta, Region 12; and Kalinga Gov. Joel Baac and Dr. Virgilio Bautista, Cordillera Administrative Region.

The RDC is the highest policy-making body in a region and serves as the counterpart of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board at the sub-national level.

It is the primary institution that coordinates and sets the direction of all economic and social development efforts in a region.

It also serves as a forum where local efforts can be related and integrated with national development activities.

The RDC was created in answer to the need for a single regional planning body whose main concern is the overall socio-economic development of a region.

Regional development planning, according to NEDA, is necessary to address the uneven economic and social development in the country. This stems from the recognition that the economic and social gains achieved so far have been unevenly distributed such that much of the progress has been concentrated in a few regions.

The President also appointed seven acting directors 2 of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, namely Bruno Patricio, Porfirio Clavel, Jr., Romulo Bernardes, Robert Peig, Babylyn Mangelen, Rodolfo Jaucian, and Ahmed Cuizon.

Engineer Adolfo Escalona was appointed executive director (vice Danilo Valero) of the Road Board, while Joel Cruz was named acting director 3 of the Department of Trade and Industry.