Regional Development Council approves P667 million project proposals

THE Regional Development Council (RDC) in Western Visayas yesterday, June 14, approved the proposed projects for 2019 of the Bacolod City for inclusion in the Department of Tourism (DOT)-Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) convergence program.

The proposed projects, which costs P667 million, was approved during its second quarter regular meeting held in Seda Hotel, Bacolod City.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia said they proposed the reconstruction and improvement of the access road leading to declared tourist destinations such as Araneta Street to Palmas Del Mar Resort; B. S Aquino Drive leading to Murcia Proper and Mambukal Resort; Narra Street leading to Sta. Fe Resort; and Arceo-Alegria leading Murcia Proper gateway to various mountain resorts.

Leonardia, who was given time to present the city’s development, said he wanted the whole region to be aware that Bacolod is growing rapidly.

“Developments are coming and all the big players are here because if we are able to project a very positive image of Bacolod that will eventually attract investors,” he said.

RDC-Western Visayas chairperson and Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao said that Bacolod is progressing so fast.

“In fact, I did not even know that Bacolod is progressing so fast because we are quite worried that Bacolod and Negros Occidental has to be turned back to Western Visayas and the projects were not pushed because of the move of our president,” he said.

In 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the abolition of Negros Island Region (NIR).

“When I heard about it, I said that let us fast track the projects in Negros Occidental, being a new member that came in,” Cadiao said.

She said most of the pending projects that were not approved by the NI-RDC are now at RDC-Western Visayas.

Cadiao noted that in the “Build, Build, Build” budget of President Duterte, the Negros Occidental is getting a bulk of that money.

“That is good for you and we are happy to have Negros Occidental back to Western Visayas,” Cadiao said.

She said that the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge will also be materialized very soon, adding that some big conglomerate Chinese and Korean businessmen are already in town to check the veracity of the project.

Moreover, RDC is also waiting the approved resolution from the Bacolod City Council for the construction of Banago Port which cost P600 million.

Cadiao said the City Government of Bacolod should submit the approved resolution endorsing this kind of project.

She said if the city fails to submit the resolution, the allotted budget will return to the national coffer.

The RDC will also facilitate the additional funds for the improvement of Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City.

Cadiao said that Silay City Mayor Mark Golez is also asking why the DOT allotted only P90 million for the development of the airport.

“So we questioned that amount because it was very small and we will request for the additional funding of Bacolod-Silay Airport,” she said.

Meanwhile, in her State of the Region Report, Cadiao said Western Visayas’ economy based on the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) growth in 2016 to 2017 accelerated by 8.4 percent from 5.9 percent in 2015 to 2016, surpassing that of the national which grew by 6.7 percent from 6.9 percent in 2015 to 2016.

“Our regional economy was valued at P350.8 billion increasing by P27 billion from the previous year,” she said.

Outside Metro Manila, Western Visayas ranked fourth in GRDP growth.

Cadiao said the major socio-economic indicators in 2017 contributed to the region’s sustained high GRDP group.

She said in 2017, the average monthly inflation rate was only 0.40 percent compared to 2.2 percent in 2016. The employment rate in 2017 was 94.6 percent while underemployment rate was 16.7 percent or a decrease of 12.6 percent.

She added the Western Visayas exports reached $433.3 million increase by 22 percent compared to 2016.

Top exports include cola, raw cane sugar, steel crap, cane molasses, assorted frozen marine products. The imports amounted to P25.4 billion decreasing by 0.4 percent, these include petrol products, coal, fertilizer, cement and wheat.

Cadiao noted the tourist arrivals also increased by 12.7 percent from about 5.2 million in 2016 to 5.9 million in 2107.

Commercial fishery production slightly dropped by less than one percent due to reduced fishing activities caused by rough seas and strong undersea currents.

For education, the Department of Education reported 1.9 and 2.4 percent Net Enrollment Rate average for both public and private and elementary schools in elementary and secondary levels, respectively, in School Year 2015-2016 to 2016 to 2017.

She said on health indicators, the crude birth rate is now a single digit level at 7.19 per 100,000 population or a reduction of 52 percent compared to 2016 levels. Crude death rate decreased by 62 percent to 2.38 per 100,000 population.

In terms of Information Technology-Business Processing Outsource (IT-BPO) industry, 52 companies were established in the province of Iloilo with 24,000 full-time employees with $120 million monthly investments and US$ 10 million monthly revenue. In Bacolod City, there are around 19 IT-BPO firms with 5,402 full-time employees.

In 2017, the RDC approved and adopted the Regional Development Plan covering the period 2017-2022 on March 30, 2017, as their medium-term blueprint for socio-economic development in Westen Visayas.

Cadiao said they endorsed the 2018 proposed budget for 23 regional line agencies and eight SUCs amounting to P97.84 and P7.14 billion, respectively to agency central offices, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Budget and Management and Congress.

“Again, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all members of this Council for your untiring work in addressing problems to improve the economy and the welfare of our people in the region. I earnestly seek your sustained full support and cooperation to our Council towards the attainment of our vision for the region as a progressive Western Visayas where people are secure, healthy, happy and conscientious stewards of culture, heritage, and natural resources,” she said.

The meeting was attended by governors, mayors, congressmen in Western Visayas, private sectors and heads of national and local government agencies.