Leyte: The Eastern Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC) has put forward nominations for Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla and two city mayors to lead the region's premier policymaking body for the forthcoming three years. The nominated city mayors are Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez and Baybay City Mayor Jose Carlos Cari.
According to Philippines News Agency, the RDC announced on Friday that the list of nominees has been submitted to the Office of the President for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s consideration and appointment. Meylene Rosales, Director of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) 8 (Eastern Visayas) and acting RDC chair, expressed optimism about the timely appointment, emphasizing the President's recognized support for the RDC, demonstrated by his participation in a special council meeting.
In addition to the public sector nominees, the RDC nominated four private sector representatives (PSRs): Roy Bernard Fiel (agriculture and fishery), Leo Christian Lauzon (social protection), Francisco Barredo (financial intermediation), and Judah Aliposa (environment). Under Executive Order (EO) 82, signed by President Marcos on January 28, 2025, eligible candidates for the RDC leadership include provincial governors, mayors of capital towns and cities, presidents of the league of municipalities in six provinces, and PSRs.
The President will choose the RDC chair and co-chair from these nominees. If a local chief executive is appointed as chair, the co-chair will be from the private sector, and vice versa if a non-government official is selected as chair. The RDC, which includes nine PSRs, aims to reinforce its leadership in line with EO 82, with terms extending until 2028. The PSRs' membership was confirmed during a council meeting on September 11, as reported by Rosales.
The RDC's membership also comprises heads of national government agencies in the region, provincial governors, city mayors, and presidents of the league of municipalities. The council plays a critical role in coordinating and steering economic and social development efforts regionally, serving as a vital link between local and national development strategies. It functions as the subnational counterpart to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board.
