The officials of Regional Development Council 2 (RDC2) attended the first virtual meeting of the Luzon Regional Development Committee (RDCom) on June 2, 2020 via MS Teams. Representing the region were RDC2 Co-Chair Blessida G. Diwa, RDC2 Vice Chair Dionisio C. Ledres, Jr., and a representative of RDC2 Chair Governor Rodolfo T. Albano III.

One of the major agenda deliberated during the meeting was the election of the committee’s Chair and Co-Chair from among the Chairpersons of the Luzon RDCs. The Luzon RDCom members selected RDC CALABARZON Chair and Batangas Governor Hermilando I. Mandanas as its Chairperson, and RDC 3 Chair and Bataan Governor Albert Raymond S. Garcia as its Co-Chairperson. This is the second term of Governor Mandanas as the Luzon RDCom Chair.

The Committee also discussed and agreed on their proposed priority agenda for 2020-2022. Among the listed priorities for the three-year term are the ASEAN integration, growth areas or pocket of economies, US Bases for tourism, agri-processing and SME development, agri-tourism, and proposed water benefits to communities.

Other agenda discussed during the meeting is the implementation of the Supreme Court decision on the just share of LGUs in the national taxes, adoption of the recommendations on agricultural technology and innovation for high value crops for implementation by all Luzon RDCs, interregional connectivity projects in Luzon, and the passed Mindanao Luzon RDCom Resolutions for support by the Luzon group.

The Luzon RDCom regularly conducts its quarterly meetings comprised of the officials of the five RDCs in Luzon.