RDC execs deny using autonomy funds in NY

By Dexter A. See 

BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera office of the Regional Development Council denied special autonomy funds were used by a nine-man delegation from the region in their recent trip to New York to attend a prestigious fashion show held at the Wardolf Astoria hotel last month.

Dr. Virgilio C. Bautista, RDC-Cordillera co-chairman, said the nearly P300,000 spent by the Cordillera delegation in the New York trip were either charged to the budgets of the participating agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Tourism and personal money of participating directors.

           

“No funds were withdrawn by the members of the delegation from the coffers of the National Economic Development Authority that handles the special autonomy funds,” Bautista said.

           

Initially, the RDC en banc approved the utilization of around P429,000 from the special autonomy fund to bankroll the trip of the Cordillera delegation o the New York fashion show, a high-end fashion event that showcased fabrics and hand-woven products from the Cordillera and Region 4-B.

           

Myrna Pablo, DTI  regional director, said her agency spent around P100,000 for the brochures and other give away products of the participants in the fashion show while she personally shouldered around P100,000 for her round trip ticket and daily subsistence allowance.

           

On the other hand, Purificacion Molintas, DOT regional director, said her agency spent around P150,000 for her round trip ticket, daily subsistence allowance and other give away products of the participants in the New York fashion show that featured Cordillera products for the first time.

           

As a result of the New York trip last month, Pablo said they were able to convince some members of the New York Chamber of Commerce and Industry to visit the region by the first quarter to conduct business matching in preparation for the infusion of possible investments that will be instrumental in enhancing economic growth in the region.

           

“Among the fields of investments that we were able to gather from our business meetings are in coffee production, business process out sourcing and education and energy,” Pablo said, adding that Cordillerans overseas are also keen on investing their money in the country because of the expected high return of investments compared to that of the low interests in the banks abroad.

           

Aside from the expected business trips of some NYCCI members to the region, Pablo claimed local exhibitors were also able to sell around $5,000 worth of their products to the high-endbuyers which is a good start for them in the international market.

           

“The overall result of our New York trip was encouraging, especially to our local exhibitors, who were able to market their products,” she said, citing that the interest shown by foreign businessmen to venture into income-generating projects in the country is a good sign that the region will be a haven of foreign investors once they are able to see the potentials of developing the region’s resources.