And with this, the Regional Development Council in Central Visayas (RDC 7) has also sought greater involvement of the local government units (LGUs) in the region in the formulation and approval of the Regional Development Plan (RDP) 2023-2028.
This would also be part of the devolution and decentralization process under the Mandanas Ruling.
The Mandanas Ruling refers to the Supreme Court ruling that the determination of the just share of the LGUs in the country’s revenues should not be based solely on national internal revenue taxes but on all national taxes. The increase in revenues received would better enable LGUs to assume the functions devolved to them under the 1991 Local Government Code and other subsequent laws.
The RDC 7 convened a special meeting with stakeholders from the private sector, LGUs and government agencies across the region on Feb. 14, 2023 at Cebu Parklane International Hotel, Cebu City, during which endorsements from the RDC’s sectoral committees on the draft Central Visayas RDP 2023-2028 were discussed.
During the plenary session, National Economic and Development Authority 7 Officer-In-Charge-Director and RDC 7 Acting Vice Chairperson Dolores Molintas said the latest draft of the RDP 2023-2028 was first issued on Nov. 10, 2022.
“As LGUs transition to having greater responsibilities given by the Mandanas Ruling, the RDP shall highlight major LGUs’ initiatives and significantly contribute to the regional objectives and targets. The plan shall have a strong LGU content,” she said.
“The RDP shall also integrate sub-national information priorities. This is intended to strengthen the linkage between the regional and local planning, and the RDP shall provide the comprehensive perspective of the LGUs in the formulation of the regional strategy,” Molintas said.
Network of centers
The RDP 2023-2028 will also usher in the physical development and growth of the region and its sub-regions by improving connectivity through a network of urban centers.
The RDC 7 said promoting the growth of the urban centers will be the catalyst for inclusive growth in Central Visayas.
The network of urban centers will be composed of Metropolitan, Regional, Sub-regional, Provincial, Urban service, and Special service.
The Metropolitan Center is located in Metro Cebu. It serves as the economic, administrative, financial and logistics center of the Visayas and primary international gateway.
The cities of Tagbilaran and Dumaguete will be the Regional Centers that serve as the primary gateway of the province, supporting the regional economy.
The Sub-regional centers will be Bogo-San Remigo, Toledo-Balamban, and Tubigon. Sub-regional centers may serve as Tourism Hub, Industrial Center, Higher Education Center, Agri-industrial Center, or a combination of these.
The six Provincial Centers will be Larena in Siquijor, Ubay and Jagna in Bohol, and Bais-Tanjay, Bayawan and Guihulngan in Negros Oriental. They will be the Market and Service Center of the province.
There will be nine Urban Service Centers that serve as Most Suitable Areas for urban development in the countryside, supporting the sub-provincial/district economy, namely Tabuelan, Carmen, Argao, Moalboal and Santander in Cebu; Ayungon and Mabinay in Negros Oriental; and Carmen and Talibon in Bohol.
The islands of President Carlos P. Garcia in Bohol, and Camotes and Bantayan in Cebu will be the location of Special Service Centers, which are providers of a limited range of urban services.
Devolution
For the development of the RDP 2023-2028, the strategies among the RDC’s sectoral committees will also take into consideration the policy on devolution, the Gender and Development program, promotion of Philippine culture and values, and protection of the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers.
It will prioritize the socio-economic strategies of the region, anchored on the “Ambisyon Natin 2040” Plan and in support of the overall Philippine Development Plan Strategy Framework.
It will also take into consideration the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals.
Molintas said the development plan for the region’s tourism industry will be integrated based on the regional context and priorities.
Poverty rising
The RDC noted the gap in the Economic and Development scorecard of Central Visayas during the Covid-19 pandemic in comparison to pre-pandemic.
Gross Regional Domestic Product fell to -9.5 percent in 2020, compared to 7.0 percent growth in 2019, while the poverty incidence increased to 27.6 percent from 17.7 percent in 2019.
The Central Visayas RDP 2023-2028 will have 18 chapters covering the following: boosting health and nutrition, employment facilitation, skills training, job generation, modernization of agriculture and agribusiness, trade and investment, tourism rejuvenation, expansion on infrastructure, maintaining peace and order, and disaster resiliency.