NEDA-CAR sets priorities to boost regional dev’t

BAGUIO CITY – The National Economic and Development Authority Cordillera has set priorities for this year to boost development of the region.

Officials and staff of the government agency reviewed their accomplishments in 2018 as the regional planning agency and technical secretariat of the Regional Development Council during the NEDA-CAR 2018 performance review and 2019 work planning workshop on Jan. 17.

The regional office said it takes pride in its increased efforts to inform more stakeholders about the development in the region through increased media engagements, availability of the quarterly regional economic situationer (QRES), the annual regional development report (ARDR), preparation of the state of the region address (SORA) and conduct of the economic literacy forum.

NEDA regional director Milagros Rimando cited significant accomplishments were reached in 2018 such as the assistance to  development of the Baguio Airport, legislative progress of establishing the BLISTT Development Authority, promotion of the Tabuk, Rizal, Pinukpuk, Tanudan (TRiPT) primary growth center as the northern counterpart of BLISTT, and more new allies gained in the local and national advocacy for autonomy towards federalism.

Being an election year, NEDA-CAR officials said they were also preparing for the reorganization of the Regional Development Council with the change of public officials.

The RDC secretariat and other regional line agencies aim to continue the progress made in regional development as the RDC reorganizes its members.

NEDA-CAR plans to capitalize on the election year to raise awareness and gain more support for the autonomy advocacy.

With the recent improvement in awareness and support at the grassroots, NEDA-CAR aims to hasten review and enhancement of the draft Cordillera Organic Act for the 18th Congress.

Having recently been certified in the ISO 9001:2015 standards, the NRO plans to continue improving the quality of its services and introduce innovative provisions of its regional development coordination services to the RDC and the whole Cordillera region.

NEDA-CAR aims to continue its agenda to promote and provide technical assistance to the advancement of the Baguio Airport, the Cordillera Roads Improvement Project (CRIP), and the BLISTT and TRiPT growth centers.  

It also aims to provide regional development coordination consistent with the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 and the region’s own development and autonomy aspirations. -- NEDA-SPCAR