THE Regional Development Council (RDC) in Western Visayas on Friday, September 15, instructed officials of Bacolod City and Negros Occidental to submit the lists of their priority programs and projects needing national fund.
National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Regional Director Ro-Ann Bacal, vice chairperson of RDC Western Visayas, said she requested Provincial Planning and Development Officer Ma. Marlin Sanogal and City Planning and Development Office head Mary Jane Ramos to provide the list
for inclusion in the Regional Development Investment Program (RIDP).
Bacal, along with Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Jesus Hinlo Jr., led the dialogue with local chief executives of Negros Occidental at the Bacolod City Government Center yesterday.
Both Sanogal and Ramos were also present.
“We decided to bring in some of the frontline agencies of the government because we would like Negros Occidental to feel that really their concerns are also our concerns as well,” Bacal said.
Regional directors and representatives of the Department of Health, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippine Ports Authority, and National Irrigation Administration also attended the meeting.
Bacal said the dialogue was held for the province and the city to present their proposals and their major programs and projects, and to highlight what they need from the national government because not all projects can be funded by the local government.
The dialogue was part of the 60-day winding up of operations following the abolition of the Negros Island Region.
Bacal said the Neda in Central Visayas, which serves as the secretariat of the RDC, is about to finish the formulation of the regional development plan which should now include the priority projects and programs of Negros Occidental.
“We would like to have a smooth transition so that we could pick-up the priority programs of Negros Occidental,” she said.
Bacal said that based on the presentations of Sanogal and Ramos, some of the project proposals can be funded by the local government unit and some are qualified for Public-Private Partnership.
Sanogal said the priority programs and projects of the province for 2016-2019 include the establishment of conservation areas to retain, restore, and protect the natural resources, and to create small patches or network of conservation areas; develop more ecozones; scale up production of high-value organic products like colored rice, cacao and coffee; large scale dairy production; establishment of food terminal or bagsakan and processing center with cold storage; establishment of Negros First Food Terminal Complex with cold storage facilities to help farmers, fisherfolk, and livestock raisers; establishment of food processing centers in LGUs to value-add agricultural crops, livestock and marine products to extend shelf life and improve marketability; push for the construction of inter-provincial roads and bridges and an expressway within Negros Island; improvement of waterways, among others.
Ramos said the City Government is planning to build more projects such as coastal boulevard, visitors center, urban food center, Araneta Street pedestrian mall, Sum-ag River development, Bacolod Nature's Park, and Bacolod Chinatown.
She added the rehabilitation of the public plaza is ongoing.
Bacal said that Negros Occidental and Bacolod City should classify the projects that should be funded by the national government.
“The RDIP covers the 2017 to 2022 budget so they should submit the lists as soon as possible because the RIDP will be approved by the RDC in its December meeting,” she said.
Bacal noted that the major functions of the RDC is to coordinate the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of short and long-term regional development plans and investment programs, regional physical framework plan and special development plans; formulate policy recommendations; and review, prioritize, and endorse to the national government the annual and multi-year investment programs of the regional line agencies for funding and implementation.