The Cagayan Valley Regional Development Council (RDC) Economic Development Committee (EDC) urged for the development of a recovery roadmap and intensified information, education and communication (IEC) campaign for African Swine Fever (ASF) during its meeting held via teleconference on March 22, 2021.

This emanated from Department of Agriculture (DA) veterinarian Dr. Manuel Galang’s presentation on the extent of ASF infection in the region and ongoing efforts to contain the same.  He relayed that mortalities due to ASF has reached 29 percent of the total hog population, affecting 68 out of the 93 municipalities and cities in all provinces of the region, except Batanes.

Aside from ASF, the EDC also discussed strategies to adapt to the new normal, with OIC-RD Fanibeth Domingo presenting the initiatives of the Department of Tourism (DOT) to support ailing tourism operators and Mr. Michael Paggabao from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reporting on the status of business activities a year after the onset of COVID in the region. The presentors highlighted the efforts employed by their respective agencies to reopen safely the economy. EDC Chairperson Governor Dakila Carlo Cua of Quirino challenged the members to devise appropriate programs to encourage businesses to maximize the use of ICT in commerce.

Relatedly, OIC-RD Nelson Daquioag of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) discussed the internet connectivity in the different provinces during the meeting. In light of the state of the region’s interconnectivity, Gov. Cua challenged the members to explore LGU-led projects to improve internet connectivity in the region, which shall be tackled in the next EDC meeting.

Other matters discussed include a briefing on the newly-created RDC 2 – Special Regional Committee on the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2020 Regional Economic Situationer. #NEDA-PFPD