RDC 6 Chair delivers state
of the region address

GOVERNOR Salvacion Z. Perez, chairperson of the Regional Development Council VI (RDC VI) delivered her State of the Region Address (SORA) during the RDC 1st Quarter Full Council Meeting on March 5, held at CAP Bldg. in San Jose, Antique. Focusing on socio-economic state of the region and the accomplishments of the RDC VI and its sector committees, Gov. Perez reported that Western Visayas continued to be the 3rd fastest growing regional economy outside of Manila during the last three years.

According to Gov. Perez, agriculture is still the main economic activity and source of livelihood in the region and that Western Visayas remains to be the second largest producer of palay next to Central Luzon. Continued production of export quality products such as muscovado and increasing demands on livestock and poultry contributed to achieving the targets of the region. The rich heritage of the region and the natural resources in the highlands and the region’s coastlines attracted many local and foreign tourists to come to Western Visayas making the tourism industry one of the major sources of revenue for business and the LGUs.

Gov. Perez also emphasized in her SORA that the region takes pride in the over two thousand home-based, micro-enterprises that have made a name for themselves because of the consistent quality of their products, and the Department of Trade and Industry’s push for its One-Town-One-Product Program which included processed food, fabrics, jewelries, metal, bamboo/wood, shell crafts, furniture and other gift items. Total exports increased by 44 percent, while imports increased by 27 percent.

The implementation of blue desk jobs program placed 17,808 graduates in local and overseas jobs, while the opening of 24 call centers and other business process outsourcing companies particularly in highly urbanized cities of Iloilo and Bacolod took in 8,492 job seekers. And to mitigate the impact of global crisis in 2008, the region embarked on the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) to provide short-term employment thereby employing 24,941 individuals in 2009.

The Chairperson pointed out that the conduct of the Western Visayas Water Summit in Bacolod City last year made people aware of the need to take stock of the region’s water resources and its many competing uses. As a result, a regional body was proposed to monitor and arbitrate among competitors the tapping of the same sources of water. Gov. Perez reminded the body of her strong commitment for renewable energy.

And towards this end, she has promoted projects that support the environment such as the multi-sectoral dialogues on climate change, energy and development planning and the holding of the Renewable Energy Summit wherein seven major investors committed to establish power generating plants using wind, solar, bio-mass, hydro, etc.

Another RDC advocacy was on good governance and for the past three years, RDC has recognized regional line agencies, state universities and colleges, and local government units that implemented successful projects and were conferred the Best Public Sector Awards.

Governor Perez also announced that the region can look forward to two additional big projects, the P4.9 billion Panay River Flood Control Project in the Province of Capiz and the P712 million Integrated System Operation Efficiency Improvement Project for the irrigation facilities damaged by Typhoon Frank for Antique and Aklan. As a whole, Perez commended the dedication and hardwork of all officers and members of the RDC, that with their united and zealous efforts for better public service in the region, fruitful accomplishments were highly achieved.

After the SORA, reports of the special and sector committees were presented. Some of the major reports that were discussed during the meeting are the Power Situation Report presented by Raul Galano of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) and the preparations for the ONE Visayas 2010 Culture, Arts and Heritage presented by the Department of Tourism Regional Director Edwin G. Trompeta, the Chairperson of the ONE Visayas Special Committee.

The highlight of the meeting was the awarding of the Plaque of Leadership to Gov. Salvacion Perez, RDC VI chairperson, and Wilfredo Homicillada, RDC VI co-chairperson, for their exemplary leadership and significant contributions to the socio-economic development of the region. (August Andong)/PN