A greener environment is being pushed in the Regional Government Center (RGC) of Region 02. With the recent conduct of the 45th Business Meeting of the Regional Committee on Sustainable Development (RCSD), the proposed Green Growth within the center was discussed and approved for the Regional Development Council (RDC) 2’s endorsement and support.

According to RDC 2 Acting Vice-Chair and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) 2 OIC-Regional Director MaryAnne E.R. Darauay, the project “Green Growth through Urban Green Tourism within the RGC”, is proposed for funding under the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea (KMOE). She said that one of the RDC 2’s priorities is its continuing efforts to create a green environment in the center with various greening activities and strategies stipulated in the RGC Master Plan.

“If approved, the RGC will pilot the project and when successful, will be replicated to other urban growth centers of the region, specially the cities and capital towns of the 5 provinces. This will be an RGC milestone for everyone,” she added.

The project aims to integrate green growth strategies within the RGC through urban green tourism activities and facilities charted in an Urban Greening Master Plan. Among the planned activities are: the crafting of a Regional Greening Master Plan, development and implementation of an IEC program, capability program for local officials, and a forum on green growth.

Mr. Artemio A. Antolin of Environment and Development Alternative Solutions Incorporated (EDASI) expressed his commendation to the said proposal. “This is a very good project to make the RGC a model for climate change. In order to make this acceptable to the Republic of Korea, the stakeholders’ participation must be highlighted and the RDC 2 and RGC Locators must have counterpart initiatives,” he added.

Currently, 75 government institutions have been issued with their lot certificates within the RGC site, of which a total of 41 agencies have already built their respective offices. Major infrastructure development within the RGC has been accomplished such as the conversion of the major road network into national roads, construction of an RGC drainage system, improvement of access roads, construction of side walk in front of the Cagayan Valley Medical Center and the improvement and installation of new street lights.

The RDC 2’s Regional Government Center Management Committee (RGCMC) continually works on further improving the Center in cooperation with all locators herein.