Gov Manotoc, Ortega elected Ilocos RDC chairman, co-chair

By Allyssa Charisse G. Magno and Geraldine R. Ulep

LAOAG CITY -- The provincial government of Ilocos Norte, headed by Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc, welcomed local leaders in the Ilocos Region and representatives from the private sector for the Regional Development Council (RDC) executive committee meeting held at the Sitio Remedios Resort in Currimao, Ilocos Norte on Nov. 22.
    The RDC monitors, coordinates and sets direction of all economic and social development efforts in the region to ensure growth of provinces.
    "We all know the crucial role that the RDC can play not only for the region but as for the county and it’s our time that we not only activate our RDC but also we maximize the output and results that come," the governor said during the meeting.
    Gov. Manotoc and the private sector's representative for social sector, Mary Jane C. Ortega, took their oaths of office as new RDC-1 chairperson and co-chairperson, presided over by Gov. Jeremias Singson of Ilocos Sur.
    During the, Gov. Manotoc reiterated his commitment to boost the region's economy through transformative development strategies in the Ilocos Region Development Plan 2023-2028.
    Among subjects discussed in the meeting were assessment and challenges provinces faced, status of non-operational Philippine Economic Zones Authority, priority investment areas and presentation of RDC-1 matters.
    "We need to think outside the box and be innovative as possible. We make sure to prioritize the function over form kasi alam po natin sa gobyerno paminsan hanggang complaints lang, so I want to make sure that we are as pragmatic or as practical as possible with the RDC to make sure that we are not only active but efficient in terms of how we conduct our own business," he said.
    The meeting concluded on a positive note as they established their specific key priorities for the next six years, such as better tax rates, anti-corruption, high-quality mass housing, development of agriculture, education, health and environment sectors; food security; quality jobs and quality pay and interconnected and efficient public transportation and internet network.
    RDC-1 will conduct its next executive committee meeting on Dec. 14 at the Bacnotan Campus of Don Mariano Marcos State University in La Union.－AM and GU -- PGIN-CMO Interns