The Regional Development Council (RDC) VIII welcomed its new set of officers during the Fourth Quarter 2022 Full Council Hybrid Meeting at the Multi-Purpose Hall, Ormoc City Hall and via Zoom on 19 December 2022.
The new RDC VIII Chairperson, Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Marie Torres-Gomez, took her oath of office before Hon. Judge Rene D. Romero, Jr. of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities, Ormoc City. Alongside her as Co-Chairperson is the RDC VIII Private Sector Representative (PSR) for Persons with Special Concerns (Women, Children, Youth, PWDs, and Senior Citizens), Leo Christian V. Lauzon.
The new Chairpersons and Co-Chairpersons of the four Sectoral Committees (SecComs) and the Gender and Development Committee also took their oath of office before Chairperson Torres-Gomez in the said meeting.
The following are the Committee Chairpersons and Co-Chairpersons for the 2022-2025 term of office:
The newly-appointed Chairpersons and Co-Chairpersons will spearhead their respective committees in addressing relevant sectoral issues that require the attention of the RDC VIII and, if necessary, raise these issues in the Full Council for appropriate action.
Updates on the formulation of the Eastern Visayas Regional Development Plan (EV RDP) 2023-2028 were also presented during the meeting. Online public consultations on the draft RDP will be held starting 28 December 2022 to 11 January 2023.
In addition, endorsed were 33 sectoral concerns that were raised during the SecCom meetings conducted in November and December. Three task forces were created to flesh out and remedy various issues that cropped up during the deliberations of the Council.
The EV RDP 2023-2028 as well as the outputs of the three task forces will be endorsed and presented during an RDC VIII-Executive Committee meeting tentatively scheduled in January 2023.
“Together, let us work for a term of office that is relevant and meaningful to the lives of the people we are mandated to serve,” Co-Chairperson Lauzon said in his message.
“As Chair, I would like to emphasize the importance of coordination and integration in terms of projects, and most especially, collaboration with our private sector partners. I would like to see each LGU’s strengths develop, such that each LGU performs specific roles in our region’s development. I would also like to pave the way for sustainable development—one that considers the wellbeing of people and planet, side-by-side profit. For what do we all need economic development for, but for our family and future,” said Chairperson Torres-Gomez.
The meeting marks the first Full Council meeting presided over by Chairperson Torres-Gomez for the 2022-2025 term of office.
Article by: Veronica Riel, DRD
Photos by: Knulp Aseo, DRD
