Thus far, RDCs have been operating largely on the basis of the goodness of the regional politicians’ hearts. That has to change.
In a country configured like the Philippines, planning and monitoring national socio-economic development is too heavy a responsibility for a single government entity. The work of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) needed to be disaggregated. Thus was born the system of regional development councils (RDCs).
The national government decided that each of the twelve regions (Regions 1 to 12) and two administrative regions (Cordillera Administrative Region and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao) would have a regional development council (RDC) responsible for preparing a socio-economic development plan for the region and monitoring the plans’ implementation.
The members of the council would be the political leaders of the region—governors, members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and mayors. The RDCs would report to NEDA, which was the author and implementor of the national development plan.
Much was expected of the RDC structure. Filipinos interested in the rapid and sustained socio-economic development of this country’s regions believed, and hoped that the regions’ political leaders would be serious about their RDC function and would give to their RDCs the effort, time and resources necessary for their success.
That belief and that hope have been dashed. The RDC system, has by and large been a failure. Most Filipinos know little or nothing about the RDCs and what the RDCs have and have not accomplished.
This is a great pity because the RDCs are an essential part of this country’s socio-economic development infrastructure. It is the governors, provincial board members and mayors who know best the conditions, needs and capabilities of their respective localities.
After decades of non-attention toward the RDCs, the national government now wants to change things. On Jan. 28, 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order No. 82, which seeks to “reorganize the regional development councils to strengthen economic planning and implementation throughout the country.” The EO mandates RDCs to “serve as the top planning and policymaking bodies for socio-economic development in their respective regions.”
Regional development councils will be restructured, says the EO, to “respond effectively to the country’s economic challenges and ensure a better alignment of national and local priorities.” To that end, the EO mandates a change in the composition of the RDCs. Representatives of the private sector – including civil society – and of government agencies will henceforth join governors, provincial board members and mayors in the leadership of the RDCs.
The EO “(tasks)” NEDA and the Department of Budget and Management with guiding the RDCs in prioritizing projects” and strengthens the role of the RDCs in “overseeing the implementation of regional investment programs and budget allocations”
Is EO 82 likely to make a big difference and to convert the RDCs into effective and dependable tools of regional socio-economic development? I’m not holding my breath.
In any assessment of the likely impact of EO 82, three facts are key.
One fact is that where you have regional bodies you have regional politicians. The EO’s references to “prioritizing projects” and “budget allocations” almost certainly did not have the regional politicians’ personal priorities in mind.
A second fact is that NEDA is a planning entity, not an implementing entity with authority to compel performance. NEDA must be able to require RDCs to prepare annual regional development plans and submit reports, with timelines for submission. Thus far, RDCs have been operating largely on the basis of the goodness of the regional politicians’ hearts. That has to change. Otherwise, EO 82 will be just words, words, words.
The third fact is that the inclusion of the private sector in the RDCs’ leadership is by no means a magic formula. Private-sector people can provide the RDCs with expertise and material support, but in the end, what will spell success for the RDCs is the governors’ and mayors’ political will.
(llagasjessa@yahoo.com)