regional development planning and policy review and formulation

   The Regional Development Council (RDC) approved the updated Bicol Development Plan in December, 2007 with a revised regional development framework and new chapters.  The regional development framework underscores the critical role of individual and corporate values in determining the state of governance in steering regional development. Likewise, the addition of chapters on productivity improvement, disaster risk management and gender and development gives more emphasis on these factors that determine socio-economic development. 

 

   The RDC has approved the Luzon Transport Master Plan (LTMP), which gave the Council a perspective of the region in relation to the rest of Luzon within a thirty-year period.  It provides for interregional linkages via land, water and air among Luzon regions and between Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.  

 

   The RDC 5 approved the proposed project of the Regional Land Use Committee on computerization of regional base map in response to the issues on varied map characteristics being used in planning and other development processes.  The output of the project would be regional, provincial, city and municipal index maps which shall be the base map for other themes that will be used for planning. The DENR Land Management Bureau and the provinces will implement the project. 

 

   On policy review, the RDC has endorsed to LGUs a proposal for tax exemption privilege and incentives to pili growers, landowners and farmers to plant pili. Pili is one of the strategic commodities of the Bicol region.

 

   It has also approved the following:

• Inclusion of the Rehabilitation Plan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 5 in the Rehabilitation Program of the Bicol Region

• Endorsing the Approval and Adoption of the Regional Progress Report on the Millennium Development Goal in Region 5

Investment Programming

  The Council has endorsed three proposals for Japan Grant Assistance under Technical Cooperation and Development Study for 2008, to wit: 

• Naga River Watershed Rehabilitation Plan

• Lake Buhi and Watershed Development Plan

   The Catanduanes Circumferential Road Project Phase II and the Rehabilitation/Maintenance of Sipocot-Baao Road Section were endorsed for Inclusion in the Road Enhancement and Asset Preservation Management Program (REAMP) of DPWH for JBIC Funding. Subsequent resolution to this was an endorsement to consider the entire 120.366-kilometer section of the Catanduanes Circumferential Road Project (Phase II) for Inclusion in the REAPMP.

 

   The projects for disaster risk reduction that were endorsed by the Council were:

• Emergency and Educational Preparedness Program of Albay for Mayon Volcano Disaster Areas

• Updating of the Master Plan and Feasibility Study on Comprehensive Disaster Prevention for Selected Priority Areas Around Mayon Volcano

• Disaster Prevention and Reconstruction of Region V  Bridges Damaged by Typhoon Reming

• Bicol Power Restoration and Outage Prevention Program

• Feasibility study for the Guinobatan-Camalig-Daraga-Legazpi (GUICADALE) Platform

   An agro-forestation project of the province of Camarines Sur was endorsed to the Department of Energy for the RWMHE enhancement fund under Energy Regulation No. 1-94.

 

   At the end of the year, the RDC issued the Guidelines for the Preparation of the Annual Investment Program (AIP) for FY 2009. This was in preparation for the budgeting exercise. The AIPs shall reflect the priorities of the region and will be endorsed to their respective central offices for incorporation to their FY 2009 agency budgets.

Problem Solving on Major Regional Development Projects/Issues

   The RDC submitted to the National Project Monitoring Committee (NPMC) the Report on the Official Inquiry on the Pantao Port with its request that the NPMC facilitate the resolution of the issues on the Port.

Support to the President's Regional Development Initiatives

   The RDC continues to monitor the status of projects that were pronounced as priorities of the President in her state of the nation address (SONA) and during her visits to the region.  The development of the roll-on roll-off ports in the strong nautical highway is continuously being monitored. Most of these ports are in Masbate province. These are critical in linking the Bicol region to the Visayas regions as part of the Central Philippines super region, the tourism center of the Philippines.

 

   The RDC secretariat continuously follows up the status of project documents on the components of the Bicol River Basin Watershed Management Program (BRBWMP) with the aim of getting all components approved by the Investment Coordinating Committee (ICC). Of the four components, only the irrigation component has undergone evaluation and was approved by the ICC.

Other Significant Accomplishments

   The RDC 5’s major accomplishments on organizational matters were during the second semester. The full council elected nominees for the chairman and co-chairman and submitted the names and required documents to the Office of the President.  Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda Masbate Private Sector Representative Fr. Leo Casas were appointed by the President as chairman and co-chairman respectively.

 

   The Council has also passed the following resolutions, to wit:  

• Approving the Composition of the RDC Sectoral Committees for the Period 2007-2010

• Designating the Chairmen and Co-chairmen of the RDC Sectoral Committees for CY 2007-2010.  The chairmen are private sector representatives and the co-chairmen are line agency regional directors.

• Confirming the Membership of the Regional Productivity Committee (RPC) and Its Technical Working Groups (TWGs) for the Agriculture, Industry and Public Sectors

• Confirming the Special Non-Voting Members of the RDC 5 for 2007-2010.  There are 14 special non-voting members of the RDC. 

• Approving the Schedule of Regular Meetings of the RDC Full Council and the Sectoral Committees for CY 2008.  Full council meetings will on the second Wednesday of the second month of the quarter. Sectoral committee meetings will be done three weeks before the full council meeting,

• Approving the Work and Financial Plan of the RDC 5 for CY 2008

• Confirming Additional Members to the Development Administration Committee (DAC) for the Period 2007-2010. The additional members were the special development bodies, Partido Development Administration (PDA) and Metro Naga Development Council (MNDC).

   Finally, the council has also revised Section II of the RDC Manual of Operations.

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