The Regional Development Council (RDC) in CAR conducted the Cordillera Planners Conference last March 28 with the theme ‘Pagsulong ng Pag-unlad at Autonomiya para sa Matatag, Maginhawa at Panatag na Buhay sa Cordillera’. The event that was held at City Light Hotel, Baguio City, was conducted to discuss development issues and concerns affecting the region.
RDC CAR Chairperson and Baguio City Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan welcomed the participants. Regional Director Milagros A. Rimando of NRO CAR , on the other hand, discussed the rationale and objectives of the conference.
The newly crafted CAR Regional Development Plan (RDP) 2016-2022 and the Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP) 2016-2022 were disseminated at the event. These documents were presented by Assistant RD Jedidia Aquino of the NRO CAR. The following plans and advocacies of the Council were also presented to gather inputs from local government units (LGUs) and regional line agencies (RLAs): (a) Declaration of Principles on Environmental Governance; (b) Coffee Development Plan 2016-2022; (c) SPCAR Roadmap 2017-2019; (d) Investment Priorities Plan 2015-2016; (e) Regional Research Agenda 2015-2016; (f) Energy Master Plan; and (g) the Alternative Transport Plan.
A workshop was also held during the event wherein issues and concerns of the LGUs including the actions and interventions from the RDC CAR and regional and national government agencies were presented. Present were representatives from the following agencies, who responded to concerns raised during the workshop: Departments of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Health (DOH), Trade and Industry (DTI), Tourism (DOT), and Agriculture (DA); NEDA, among others. Lemuel Dimagiba and Zenaida Go, both from the Regional Development Staff, NEDA Central Office also responded to some of the issues raised by the local development planners.
Of the 85 participants who attended the event from all the provinces, city and municipalities in the region, 47 were local planners from the provinces and municipalities, three were from state colleges and universities and the rest were from the RLAs.
Provincial Planning Development Officers (PPDOs) Henry Caluduccan of PPDO-Apayao, Lily Rose Kollin of PPDO-Mountain Province, and other PPDO representatives were also present at the event.
NRO CAR
Photos by NRO CAR