The Regional Development Council 2 conducted its 1st Business Meeting held on March 20, 2014 at the Charinas Suite Hotel, Santiago City after its reorganization last September 2013. Various regional concerns were deliberated upon, such as the Council’s Work and Financial Plan (WFP) for CY 2014, the Agency/ State Universities and Colleges (SUC) budget proposals for FY 2015, the RGIN Operations Manual, and other programs needing RDC 2 endorsement.

For CY 2014, the RDC 2 Work Program has a total budgetary requirement of PhP 9.175M. Aside from its usual conduct of quarterly meetings, the programmed activities for the year include: the updating of major regional plans such as the DRR/CCA-enhanced Regional Physical Framework Plan (RPFP), Regional Research and Development Agenda 2014-2016 and Coconut Industry Cluster Plan; conduct of budget review consultations, local investment and industry forum, green growth forum, planners convention; continuous monitoring of projects; promotion and dissemination of IEC materials on the Region 2’s Image Brand; improvement of the Regional Government Center; and enhancement of RDC 2 facilities, among others.

On the other hand, twenty-five (25) budget proposals for FY 2015 from twenty (20) Regional Line Agencies (DA, DILG, CHED, DAR, DepEd, DOH, DOLE, DPWH, DSWD, DTI, DOTC, DENR, DOST, DOT, BFAR, LTO, NIA, TESDA, DENR-EMB, DNR-MGB) and five (5) State Universities and Colleges (BSC, CSU, ISU, NVSU, QSC) were endorsed by the Council during the meeting. The total budget proposal of said agencies and SUCs amounted to PhP 30.416B. The endorsement will be issued to their respective agency central offices and the Department of Budget Management Central Office.

On infrastructure development, the tourism road projects for the Convergence Program of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for FY 2015 were approved and endorsed. The total cost for the proposed infrastructure projects amounted to P 2.172B.

Relatedly, the projects ready for CY 2015 implementation include: the Penablanca-Callao Cave Road (Cagayan); the San Vicente-Savidug-Chavayan-Sumnanga-Nakanmuan Road leading to Sabtang Cultural Heritage Site, Nakabuang Beach, Stone Houses, Sabtang Island (Batanes); Road from Maddela River Ecology and Tourism Park to Victoria Waterfalls and Eco-Tourism Park, Aglipay (Quirino); Road leadig to Cabaruan Caves and Waterfalls, Maddela (Quirino); Access road leading to Blue Water Area, Baggao (Cagayan); and the upgrading of Local Road from Junction Wangal to Capisaan Cave (Nueva Vizcaya).

Meanwhile, the RDC 2 showed support to the RDC 3 Resolution entitled “Recommending the Inclusion of the Malolos-Clark Route in the First Phase of the Airport Express Railway Project Feasibility Study by the Department of Transportation and Communications.” Said Airport Railway Express will link the Food Terminals Incorporated in Taguig, Metro Manila and Clark in Pampanga. The implementation has two phases: Phase 1 – FTI to Malolos City, and Phase 2 – Malolos City to Clark. The project aims to provide alternative land transport mode that will directly link the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) with Clark as well as improve the accessibility of the latter to target users from the Luzon area especially Central Luzon. The opening of the commuter service is expected on 2020. Cognizant of its impotant and possible effect to Region 02, the RDC 2 resolved its support.

The RDC 2 also approved and adopted the Updated Regional Geographic Information Network (RGIN) Operations Manual. The updated manual seeks to align its efforts to the new development trends, as well as the growing role of the network in various regional projects such as the piloting of the region on the Climate Change and Disaster Risk Information System Project (CRISP). The manual includes the respective duties and responsibilities of each member as well as the data procedures and policies of the Network’s generated outputs.

Other passed resolutions during the meeting include: the resolution supporting the integration/ institutionalization of the parenting education on adolescent health and development (AHD) in the regular Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) activities, and the resolution encouraging the Local Government Units (LGUs) to allocate funds for the conduct of AHD Programs/ Projects/ Activities; and the creation of a Task Force to further study and recommend for policy and procedural measures to address the pressing concerns of the region’s truckers and haulers, as presented and expressed by Honorable Governor Faustino G. Dy, III of Isabela.