Marcos reorganizes regional development councils
President Marcos has reorganized the regional development councils (RDCs) across the Philippines to strengthen their role in accelerating their areas’ socioeconomic development.
Signed on Jan. 28, Executive Order 82 repealed EO 325 issued by then President Fidel Ramos in 1996 that also reorganized the RDCs.
In his directive, Mr. Marcos said the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 “highlights the importance of supporting the thrust towards regional development and rationalizing government functions, systems, and mechanisms in achieving deep social and economic transformation.”
“It is imperative to further reorganize the RDCs to strengthen their role in the pursuit of regional socio-economic development,” he said.
RDCs are the highest planning and policy-making body in their respective regions and serve as counterparts of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) board at the regional level.
The RDCs coordinate and set the direction for all economic and social development efforts, where local efforts can be integrated with regional and national development activities.
Members
In issuing EO 82, the President reorganized the composition of RDCs to include additional regional directors from new agencies, such as the Department of Migrant Workers, as members.
The regional directors of the following government agencies will sit as members of RDCs: the Commission on Higher Education, Department of Education, Department of Energy, Bureau of Local Government Finance, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development;
Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Migrant Workers, Department of Transportation, Cooperative Development Authority, Office of Civil Defense, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and the Philippine Information Agency.
EO 82 also mandated that private sector representatives to RDCs be Filipino citizens of legal age who should not hold any government post and with a proven track record in socioeconomic development. They will not be entitled to remuneration, except for honoraria and travelling expenses.
Private sector representatives will serve for three years coinciding with the regular term of elective local officials. They may be appointed to a maximum of three consecutive terms.
The RDCs are tasked to coordinate and set the direction of all socio-economic efforts in the region, as well as to prepare, implement, monitor and evaluate regional development plans, regional investment programs, and special development plans.
They will prioritize, review, and endorse projects that support regional development plans or require funding support from the national government, annual budgets of regional offices of the RDCs’ member-agencies, and national projects that will be implemented or have an impact on the region.
The RDCs are also charged with promoting and supervising the inflow and allocation of private investments in the region to support regional development objectives, policies, and strategies. They will also beef up the capacity of local government units in socio-economic planning, investment programming, and project development.
The RDC may create sectoral committees, technical working groups, and advisory committees for this purpose.
Investment plans
EO 82 tasked the Neda and the Department of Budget and Management, as members of RDCs, to jointly issue guidelines on strengthening regional investment programming and budgeting.
The central offices of government agencies were ordered to prioritize key RDC-endorsed programs, projects, and activities in their investment programs and annual budgets and provide feedback to the RDCs on their actions.
EO 82 also outlined the duties and functions of the chairperson and co-chairperson of each RDC. The top two officials will be appointed by the President for three years with a maximum of three consecutive terms.
The Neda regional director will serve as the ex-officio vice chairperson of the RDC while the NEDA regional office will serve as the RDC’s secretariat.
The chairperson and co-chairperson of the RDC will direct and supervise the RDC’s activities and oversee the implementation of inter-provincial and region-wide development programs, activities, and projects.
They may also accept any donation, contribution, grant, bequest, or gift from foreign governments, international offices, private entities, or individuals for purposes relevant to regional development.
However, the chairperson and co-chairperson should submit a program for the utilization of such donations in accordance with provisions on donations under the General Appropriations Act, and subject to the RDC’s approval.
Exemption
The President said EO 82 will not apply to Metro Manila and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, in accordance with Republic Act 7924 or the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Act and RA 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law.
The Neda was told to issue the guidelines for the implementation of the RDCs’ reorganization within 60 working days, which should include a framework for the preparation and approval of a manual of operations of RDCs, a mechanism for the selection of a secretary and other RDC officers, and rules on vacancy and succession.
The funding needed to implement EO 82 will be charged against the Neda’s current and available appropriations and other sources as identified by the DBM. Funding for subsequent years will be included in future budget proposals.
