CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Mayor Oscar Rodriguez and Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (PamCham) president Renato Romero have landed in the top names of the nominees for chairman and co-chairmanship, respectively, of the Regional Development Council (RDC).
In the recent 13th reconstitution of the RDC at Partyland Restaurant Tuesday, Romero, who is also the business private sector representative to the RDC, received seven votes from the 13-member body of the private sector representatives in the RDC.
Joining Romero in the top three nominees for the co-chairmanship of the RDC were Dr. Roberto Ramirez with eight votes and Dr. Rodante Pascual with seven.
Rodriguez, meanwhile, led the top three nominees for the RDC chairmanship earning 10 votes from fellow local government executives in the provincial and municipal level.
Zambales Governor Hermohenes Ebdane and Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado followed with seven votes each.
The nominees for the respective posts will be presented to President Benigno Aquino III for his final decision.
Rodriguez, in an interview, said he was honored with the trust accorded to him by fellow government leaders. He said he will leave the decision to President Aquino.
However, most of the RDC members who were present during the nomination proceedings said they are confident that Rodriguez would get the RDC post.
“Mayor Oca would surely land the post as most of the members find him easy to work with,” one of the RDC members, who requested anonymity, said.
Rodriguez is currently the president of the League of Cities of the Philippines. Asked if he could still manage the additional work load, Rodriguez said the RDC would just be the same as running a city as there are many partners and groups willing to lend a helping hand.
Romero, on the other hand, has been the co-chairman of the RDC for two straight terms and is also a favorite of the RDC members.
Romero told Sun.Star Pampanga that if he gets appointed, working with Mayor Rodriguez would not be a difficult job.
He said he will also integrate the advocacies of PamCham into the development agenda of the RDC if given a chance to sit again as co-chair.
“We (can) expect a lot of development if Mayor Rodriguez is appointed by President Aquino,” Romero added. (Ian Ocampo Flora)