The provincial government of Occidental Mindoro hosted the 53rd Regional Development Council (RDC) full council meeting held on December 4, 2015 in Provincial Convention Center Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro.

RDC IV-MiMaRoPa Chairman and Romblon Governor Eduardo C. Firmalo presided the meeting which was attended by the following directors and representatives of regional line agencies, local government units, and private sector representatives: Atty. Romeo C. Escandor, Regional Director of National Economic Development (NEDA) IV-B; Jose C. Alvarez, Governor of Palawan; Mario Gene J. Mendiola, Governor of Occidental Mindoro; Carmencita O. Reyes, Governor of Marinduque; Alfonso, V. Umali, Jr., Governor of Oriental Mindoro; Eric A. Constantino, Mayor of Abra de Ilog Occidental, Mindoro; Ruben S. Baster, Regional Director of National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) IV-B; representative of Edita S. Bueno, Administrator of National Electrification Administration (NEA); representative of Eugene G. Cabrera, Regional Director of Office of Civil Defense (OCD) IV-B; representative of Allan L. Leuterio, Regional Director of Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) IV-B; representative of PC/Supt Dennis J. Peña, Philippine National Police (PNP); Leni R. Rioflorido, representative of Regional Director of Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) IV-B; representative of Engr. Florentino R. David, Regional Director of National Irrigation Administration (NIA) IV-B; representative of Carina Z. Santiago, Officer-In-Charge of National Nutrition Council (NNC) IV-B; representative of Lydio M. Español, Jr., Regional Director of Commission on Population (POPCOM) IV-B; representative of Ma. Josefina P. Abilay, Regional Director of Department of Science and Technology (DOST) IV-B; Virginia D. Akiate, Regional Director of Commission on Higher Education (CHED) IV-B; representative of Erlinda Pearl V. Armada, Regional Director of Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) IV-B; representative of Atty. Tomas J. Cariño, Jr., Lucena Branch Head of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP); representative of Renato M. De Vera, Regional Director of Department of Budget and Management (DBM) IV-B; Atty. Alvin M. Villamor, OIC Regional Director of Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) IV-B; representative of Subair S. Diron, Regional Director of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) IV-B; Oscar C. Dominguez, Regional Director of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) IV-B; representative of James F. Fadrilan, Regional Director of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) IV-B; representative of Eduardo C. Janairo, Regional Director of Department of Health (DOH) IV-B; representative of Baron L. Lagran, Regional Director of Technical Education and Skills Development (TESDA) IV-B; representative of Atty. Minerva A. Morada, Regional Director of Department of Tourism (DOT) IV-B; Wilma D. Naviamos, Regional Director of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) IV-B; representative of Dr. Gilbert T. Sadsad, OIC Regional Director of Department of Education (DepEd) IV-B; Cipriano G. Santiago, Regional Executive Director of Department of Agriculture (DA) IV-B; representative of Joel B. Valera, Regional Director of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) IV-B; Ma. Paz Baylon, representative of Ayala Foundation; Rev. Billy Llamar, private sector representative of Oriental Mindoro; and Gabayno Oybad, representative of Mangyan Mission BFC.

The matters endorsed and approved during the meeting were: (1) Updated Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP) 2015-2017; (2) Budget review guidelines FY 2017; (3) Regional Development Report (RDR) 2015 preparation guidelines; (4) Strategic Regional Development Agenda (SRDA) recommended actions; (5) Tourism projects in Occidental Mindoro; (6) Electric cooperatives Right of Way (ROW) compensation; (7) and RDC schedule of meeting CY 2016.

Also, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) IV-B Regional Director Wilma V. Naviamos, presented the three core matters during the meeting: (1) Great Women 2 project committee; (2) RDC special committee on culture; (3) and Inclusion of OCD as Social Development Committee (SDC) member which were also endorsed and approved by the RDC.

RDC members also discussed the following matters: (1) Report on PSR 2015 Convention; (2) RPFP updating/RSDR preparation; (3) Sustainable development goals; (4) Regional economic situationer; (5) Project monitoring report; (6) Status of RDC endorsed projects; (7) Peace and order situationer; (8) and Report on illegal drugs.

The council expressed its appreciation to the provincial government of Occidental Mindoro for hosting the event.

NEDA IV-B together with RDC members aims to pursue implementation of development planning effort in the IV-B Regional towards sustainable development through formulation and review of development plans and policies that are attuned to the needs of the IV-B Region and Provinces, Cities and Municipalities facilitation of regional investment programming; utilization of knowledge capital and technologies to spur development efforts; provision of technical assistance to LGUs and RLAs; monitoring and evaluation of plans to ensure attainment of national goals; provision of management support to the Regional Development Council; and continuous organizational development to strengthen internal NRO IV-B operations and management. ###