“We must keep the momentum of our region not only as an agro-industrial hub and a producer of raw materials but as a producer of high-value products.”

This was what Quirino Provincial Governor Junie E. Cua, Chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC)2, said as he addressed the heads and representatives of the member-agencies of the Council during its 110th regular business meeting on September 15, 2017 in Cauayan City, Isabela.

“We must see to it that we remain sustainable in keeping this as our role in the development scheme of our region as a food basket,” he added.

Gov. Cua further emphasized the relevance of the meeting’s agenda to the current administration’s infrastructure development program.

“Under the President’s Build Build Build infrastructure campaign, we now have the opportunity to propose projects that will have regional impact in order to enhance the competitiveness of our region,” the RDC 2 Chair stated.

During this meeting, the RDC 2 endorsed resolutions supporting four infrastructure projects, namely the proposed conversion of the Junction Libag–Capatan Road leading to Aguinaldo Street in Tuguegarao City from a local to a national road category; the funding request for the construction/concreting of a section of the Tabuk City, Kalinga – Tuao, Cagayan Road; the conduct of a feasibility study for an international airport in Cagayan; and the CY 2018 DTI-DPWH Convergence Program called the “Roads Leveraging Linkages of Industry and Trade” or ROLL IT.

The RDC 2 also endorsed the request for the strict implementation of policies on overloading, particularly the operationalization and management of weighbridges in Region 2 and the provision of warehouses beside these weighbridges.

On the management of the Regional Government Center (RGC) in Carig Sur, Tuguegarao City, the Council passed a resolution requesting the City Government of Tuguegarao to relocate the ambulant vendors proliferating in the RGC to another location outside of the Center. These vendors and owners of makeshift stalls have occupied spaces on road sides in busy areas at the RGC entrance.

Further, two government agencies, namely the Philippine Information Agency and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, were granted a two-year extension of the period given to agencies who were awarded with lots in the RGC to already introduce improvements in their lots. The extended period given to them is from September 2017 up to August 2019.

Other approved resolutions were the resolution endorsing the project proposals of the Cagayan State University and the Isabela State University for funding under the Niche Centers in the Regions for Research and Development (NICER) Program of the DOST, and the resolution adopting the five-year Eel Management Plan of Region 2.

Lastly, the RDC 2 approved the inclusion of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, through the Baguio City Economic Zone, as one of its special non-voting members.#