In his message during the 122^nd Joint RDC Full Council and Advisory Committee Meeting on March 30, Cagayan Valley Regional Development Council (RDC2) Chairperson and Isabela Governor Rodolfo T. Albano III assured the members that government agencies and the private sector continue to work together towards a post-pandemic economic rebound amidst what seems to be a never-ending crisis.

“The region was able to cope with what seems to be a crisis upon crisis,” he added. Governor Albano referred to the region’s positive outlook despite the looming impact of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, ASF, and soaring fertilizer prices while still recovering from the COVID 19 pandemic.

With the increasing concerns on the impact of the Ukraine-Russia war, RDC2 Vice-Chair and NEDA2 Regional Director Dionisio C. Ledres, Jr.  presented to the Council the combined impact of the COVID -19 pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

“We know that everyone is affected. The conflict will bring up commodity prices including interest rates.” With this, RD Ledres discussed the detailed interventions as recommended by the Economic Development Cluster of the NEDA Board. Among those recommendations are the nationwide shift to alert level 1, full face-to-face reopening of schools, and provision of subsidies to the transport and agriculture sectors. All these are aimed to cushion the impacts of both the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

The face-to-face Council meeting was held in Piazza Zicarelli Hotel in Gamu, Isabela with an overwhelming attendance of the Council members.#