Friday, February 19, 2010

The RDC-8 meeting in Calbayog

The Regional Development Council of Region 8 (RDC-8) held its meeting in Calbayog City yesterday. It was held at the CAlbayog City Sports Center. The officials present included Presidential Assitant Cynthia Nierras and NEDA Regional Director Buenaventura Go-Soco, among others.

Calbayog City Mayor and RDC-8 Chair Mel Senen Sarmiento presiding over the RDC meeting. With him are (r) Hon. Cynthia Nierras, Presidential Assistant for Region 8; and NEDA-8 Regional Director Buenaventura Go-Soco. (Photo by Henry Puyat)


The Regional Development Council of Eastern Visayas also referred to as RDC VIII was organized in 1974 through Letter of Implementation (LOI)No. 22 issued on December 31, 1972. pursuant to the Integrated Reorganization Plan of 1972. Its primary task is to coordinate policy formulation, development planning and monitoring in the region.

To make the RDC more effective in accelerating administrative decentralization, it was reorganized through Executive Order No. 308 issued on November 5, 1987. This was subsequently amended by EO Nos. 318, 347, 366, 455, and 505. The latest issuance was Executive Order 325 issued on April 12, 1996, which was also called for the reorganization of the Regional Development Councils. Thus, this site was updated to be consistent with this amendment and to explain improvements in procedures.

The passage of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code on October 11, 1991, brought added dimension to the role of the RDC. While it performed various tasks like coordinating, planning and investment programming activities of line agencies and local government units, endorsing agency and local government projects, reviewing and endorsing budgets of selected agencies, it also performed an important role in strengthening the autonomy of the local governments. In addition, the Council also coordinated the development activities of national government agencies and pursued the acceleration of regional socio-economic development activities.

The existence of the RDC is also pursuant to Section 14, Article X of the 1987 Constitution which provides that the President shall create Regional Development Councils (RDCs) and other similar bodies composed of local government officials, regional heads of departments and other government offices and representatives from non-government organizations within the regions.

The RDC is the primary institution in the region which sets the direction of economic and social development of the region and through which regional development efforts are coordinated. (From the RDC8 website)

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