In a resounding show of support, the Regional Development Councils (RDC) from across the country expressed their gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., for his unwavering support and push for inclusive growth and development in the regions.  

Last April 30, the RDC Chairpersons and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) met with President Marcos to discuss various regional development initiatives aligned with the strategies contained in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 and Regional Development Plans. 

NEDA Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan emphasized that the President's support opens up significant opportunities for strategic prioritization of regional investments and budget allocation. 

“The importance that the President placed on the RDCs has inspired our Chairpersons to actively lead in the many regional development efforts across the country. RDCs play a vital role in steering socioeconomic development at the regional and local level by bridging the gap between national agencies and local government units,” Balisacan said.  

During the meeting, the RDCs advocated for the issuance of an executive order (EO) that will further empower them in their mission. NEDA presented the proposal for the issuance of an EO that aims to strengthen the RDCs' role in formulating regional development plans and investment programs, reviewing agency budgets, monitoring project implementation, and addressing bottlenecks.  

This proposed amendment seeks to build upon the foundation laid by EO 325 (s. 1996) by addressing some of the perceived weaknesses of the RDCs. These include their limited presence in the local government units (LGU), their restricted influence in the funding of priority regional programs and projects, and the lack of budget to support RDC operations, including monitoring and capacity-building activities.