Wednesday, November 15, 2006 Speak out: RDC representation By Lindy C. Morrell
It is time for officials of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) in the Neda central office to wake up and widen their field of vision in formulating guidelines for private sector representation. And make the criteria responsive to the challenges of the 21st century.
For so many decades, those who formulated the selection criteria are suffering from either chronic perception myopia or bias against retired public officials now in the private sector.
In the selection criteria for private sector representation, young Neda executives who formulated it cited certain conditions that have to be fulfilled by those in the private sector who want to participate in Regional Development Council (RDC) activities.
The criteria appear reasonable and logical. But certainly it can be enriched with fresh inputs from the field.
We urge the Neda director-general and the secretary for economic planning to give automatic slots in the RDC executive committee and the RDC council to some retired public officials, like retired Neda regional directors.
This is to enrich the competence base of the RDCs, taking advantage of the valuable insights that Neda retired regional director had gained through the years of service and trainings.
Such retired directors should not be made to compete for slots in the RDC and be equated or even regarded as total strangers who have yet to prove their worth in RDC deliberations.
If this unfair and unjust treatment of retired Neda regional directors is allowed to continue, then Neda has failed to express appreciation to them.
Is this the way to treat public servants who spent the best years of their lives in serving the country?
