The Regional Development Council (RDC) VIII-Infrastructure and Utilities Development Committee (IUDC) conducted its 1st Quarter 2017 Meeting on 09 March 2017 at the Felipina Hall, NEDA Regional Office VIII, Government Center, Palo, Leyte.

During the meeting, the Committee passed resolutions endorsing to the RDC VIII the FY 2018 Tier 2 budget proposals of the regional line agencies (RLAs) and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) under the Infrastructure and Utilities Sector, namely: DPWH VIII, PPA, PhilPost, NEA, DOTr, and CAAP VIII, subject to incorporation of comments and recommendations of the body. The Committee also passed resolutions recommending RDC VIII endorsement of the port zone delineation applications of the Ports of Naval and Maripipi, Biliran; proposed Feasibility Studies for the Luzon-Samar Link Bridge, Leyte-Surigao Link Bridge and Bohol-Leyte Link Bridge Projects; and the request for assistance of the Pope Francis Village in Brgy. Diit, Tacloban City for water distribution, electrification, housing, among others.

The meeting was presided by RDC VIII-IUDC Chair and DPWH VIII Regional Director Edgar B. Tabacon, and assisted by RDC VIII-Co-Chair PSR Tiburcio A. Morales, Jr. There were around ninety (90) participants of the meeting, including Leyte 3rd District Congressman Vicente Veloso, Maasin City Mayor Nacional Mercado, Catbalogan City Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Air Transport Planning Division Chief Rafael Lavides with Project Evaluation and Monitoring Service Chief Santiago Testor and OIC-Region VIII Area Manager Wilfredo Cruz, regional heads of DBM VIII, NTC VIII, LTO VIII, CAAP VIII, and LEYECO II, as well as representatives from the different district engineering offices of DPWH VIII, RLAs, local government units, congresspersons, guests and the private sector.

Lucille B. Gajutos, PMED, NEDA VIII