CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — “Bring the government closer to the people.”
This is one of the three core purposes of the Regional Development Council (RDC) which the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA-7) highlighted during the culmination of the 2024 RDC Week in Central Visayas.
NEDA-7 regional director Jennifer Bretaña shared that the celebration of the RDC week every last week of September serves as a reminder of the purpose of the council.
The other two purposes of the RDC are to accelerate economic and social development by strengthened coordination, and to strengthen people’s participation in governance.
“Significantly, we are celebrating the RDC Week because we want to strengthen the network of all of us key actors of governance in order for us to work faster, more efficiently, and more effectively,” said Bretaña.
She emphasized the importance of camaraderie and trust especially between the regional line agencies to attain significant outcomes for the people in Central Visayas.
Bretaña shared the directive of the President to the RDCs in the country is to take the greater role in bridging and elevating local issues up to the national level.
“The RDC, according to the President, should take a greater role in capacitating our local government units to become more self-reliant, and therefore, support the full realization of the devolution,” Bretaña said.
2024 RDC culmination
The RDC-7 set up service booths at SM Seaside in Cebu City to wrap up the celebration of the 26th RDC Week in the region.
At least 13 regional and local government agencies participated in the culmination activity.
RDC-7 chairperson and Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado, in his keynote message, lauded the successful conduct of the week-long activities as he encouraged the participants present during the event to avail themselves of the services offered by the different government agencies.
“Indeed, with the various RDC week activities, we are all part of the purpose and passion to serve,” Aumentado said.
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA-7), one of the participating agencies, offered their bread and pastry products, massage services, haircut services, and manicure and pedicure services.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also exhibited the products under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) and the AreaI Vocational Rehabilitation Center (AVRC).
Staff from the Department of Health (DOH) Central Visayas Center for Health Development (CVCHD) and the Cebu City Health Department also administered free vaccines against flu and pneumonia, blood sugar testing, and medical check-ups.
Other participating agencies were the Government Service Insurance System, SSS, PhilHealth, PAG-IBIG, PSA, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Department of Agriculture, National Nutrition Council, and Department Trade and Industry.. (JJT/PIA 7 Cebu)
