Rama voted RDCom rep to NEDA Board

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama was elected as principal representative of the Visayas Regional Development Committee to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board with Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla as his alternate.

Chairmen and co-chairmen of Regional Development Councils in Regions VI, VII and VIII met yesterday at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel to choose among themselves their representative to the NEDA Board.

Rama was unani-mously voted as during the election.

Present during the meeting were RDC-6 chairman, Capiz Governor Victor Tanco and his co-chairman Ma. Luisa Segovia; RDC-7 chairman Rama and his co-chairman Argeo Melisimo; RDC-8 chairman Petilla and his co-chairman Tiburcio Morales as well as the officials of NEDA in the three regions.

Rama said it is an additional responsibility for him but he is happy to see other regions concurring their trust and confidence for him to take the lead.

Initial issue that has been brought up by RDC-8 to Rama is the peace and order situation of Samar province after the assassination of Calbayog City Mayor Reynaldo Uy last week.

“We can’t ignore that problem,” Rama said.

Rama was also elated when Melisimo suggested the body to learn from the solid waste management program of Cebu City through waste segregation.

“That (is) something to be proud of,” he said.

Rama and Petilla will serve for three years pursuant to Executive Order No. 257 signed by then president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2003.

The EO provides that each area committee of the Regional Development Committee (RDCom) under the NEDA Board shall select from among themselves their principal and alternate RDC representatives to the NB-RDCom headed by the NEDA Director-General.

The NB-RDC shall formulate and monitor the implementation of policies that reduce regional growth and disparities, promote equitable allocation of resources among regions; serve as clearinghouse for key regional development policy proposals which impact on two or more regions; formulate and monitor the implemen-tation of the framework for regional development of the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan; direct the formulation and review guidelines for the regional allocation of agency budgetary resources; and periodically review the viability of the regional configuration of the country and recommend to the President the re-delineation of regions, as may be necessary. – (FREEMAN)