Tuguegarao City – The Committee on Development Administration & Communication (CODAC) of the RDC 2 conducted its first quarter meeting on February 24, 2015 at the NEDA Regional Office. The meeting was presided over by its Chair, Mayor Bernard Faustino Dy of Cauayan City and co-chaired by Dir. Purita Licas of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

Among others, the Proposed Institutionalization of the Regional Development Budgeting Process Framework (RDBPF) was discussed. This proposal is an alternative fiscal reform that is intended to bridge the gaps in regional budget allocation through the RDCs. It is an attempt to overcome the downside of decentralized budgeting by bridging centrally-determined programs and projects of National Government Agencies and the locally-determined budget system of the LGUs through the RDC mechanism. The RDBPF was earlier presented during the October 2014 RDC Meeting, however, in consideration of a number of issues raised, particularly on its effectiveness in addressing the observed disparity in the allocation of national budget among regions and in strengthening the influence of RDCs on the review and approval of agency budgets, the body deferred the endorsement of the proposal and referred it back to the CODAC for further study, thus its re-discussion. Based on the framework of the proposal, the body addressed the issues one by one, after which it was supported and re-endorsed to the RDC 2.

Another major item that was tackled during the meeting is the RDC-VI Resolution Requesting the Climate Change Commission to Formulate Guidelines that Will Require Coal-fired Power Plant Companies to Annually Propagate a Specific Number of Trees or Plant/Reforest a Specific Number of Hectares Proportional to their Installed Capacity. This is in view of the existence of coal mine power plants in Region VI and the country in general. While these power plants are recognized as vital infrastructure facilities which provide reliable and affordable sources of energy, these facilities emit a huge amount of carbon dioxide which is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming and climate change phenomena. To help mitigate the adverse impact of these power plants on the environment therefore, the RDC VI passed said Resolution for which the support of the other RDCs is being sought. While there is no coal-fired power plant yet in Region 2, it is recognized that the region is not spared from the effect of carbon dioxide emission into the atmosphere by the power plants elsewhere thru global warming. As such, the CODAC unanimously supported and endorsed the said Resolution of RDC VI.

Meanwhile, updates on major initiatives on best practices on good governance were also shared by local chief executives and officials during the meeting.

Mayor Engelbert Caronan of Tuguegarao City was present to discuss Tuguegarao City’s “Character First” Program. He made mention that while the program primarily aims to introduce and focus a certain character that the City Government would uphold and promote for a month, it is believed to be a good governance approach and strategy aimed at transforming officials and employees to become effective and efficient public servants. Further, it enables character-building as part of establishing a strong community.

Likewise, Mr. Danilo Tumamao of LGU Isabela presented the BRO (Bojie-Rodito Opportunities) which is the Flagship Program of Gov. Faustino Dy. The said Program consists of various components such as provision of capital for livelihood, health, education, transport subsidy, among others, all aimed at uplifting the living condition of the marginal farmers of the province. Said program also exhibits Isabela’s best practices in local governance, all in keeping with its mission of providing the best services to its constituents.

The meeting ended with the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), through its agency head, Dir. Bringas agreeing to host the next quarter Committee meeting in May.