RDC confirms new private sector reps

By Dexter A. See 

BAGUIO CITY – The Regional Development Council (RDC) in the Cordillera confirmed the new private sector representatives in the region’s policy-making body for the term 2019-2022.

The newly confirmed private sector representatives to the RDC-CAR with their corresponding sectors are Arnel M. Cabanisas of the Filipino-Japanese Foundation of Northern Luzon, Inc. – social development; Rafael C. Gayaso of the Northern Luzon Federation of Cooperatives and Development Center – economic sector; Ferdinand P. Gonzales of the Peoples Organization for Social Transformation Development Network, Inc. – development administration; Julie C. Cabato of the Shontoug Foundation, Inc. – watershed and environment management; Manuel C. Ano of the Igorot Global Organization Philippines – indigenous peoples’ concerns; Esteban S. Pumeg-as of the Association of Labor Management Cooperation and Advocates of Voluntary Arbitration, Inc. – labor; Philip M. Tinggonon of the Concerned Citizens of Abra for Good Government – Abra; Norberto C. Duran of the Tawit Ancestral Domain and Development Organization – Apayao; Mary Carmelle V. Bautista of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Inc. – Baguio Chapter - - Baguio City; Edna C. Tabanda – Pilipina Inc. – Baguio-Benguet chapter – Benguet; Arlene B. Santiago of the Igorota Foundation, Inc. – Ifugao and Paulino D. Tumapang, Jr. – Lang-ay Festival Organization – Mountain Province.

The RDC composed of representatives from both the public and private sectors is the primary institution that coordinates and sets the direction of development efforts in the region.

Executive Order No. 325, series of 1996 that prescribed the rules and regulations for the reorganization of the RDCs provided that regular members shall include private sector representatives, who shall comprise one-fourth of the members of the fully constituted council.

To widen the pool of potential private sector nominees for the private sector representative selection and to gather the civil society groups’ inputs and proposals regarding the selection process and election procedures, the RDC-CAR conducted the consultation with civil society organizations on their participation in RDC-CAR programs and activities on June 17, 2019.

The RDC-CAR approved the private sector selection process and election procedures during its meeting on June 24, 2019.

Subsequently, 34 private sector organizations submitted their private sector representative nomination and official voter forms, with 29 applicants qualifying as private sector nominees.

Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong administered the oath of office of the newly confirmed private sector representatives to the region’s policy-making body during the joint RDC-RPOC meeting which was held at the Mansion House last Thursday.

The RDC-CAR private sector representatives are divided into sectoral and geographic wherein they will be representing their organizations either by the sector by which they were appointed or the geographic area where they belong.