The RDC was created by Presidential Decree No. 1 issued on September 1972. It was formally established by virtue of Letter of Implementation No. 22 issued on 31 December 1972 pursuant to the implementation of the Integrated Reorganization Plan of 1972. Its present constitutional foundation rests on Article X, Section 14 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which states that, “The President shall provide for Regional Development Councils, or other similar bodies composed of local government officials, regional heads of departments and other offices, and representatives from non-government organizations within the region for purposes of administrative decentralization to strengthen the autonomy of units therein and to accelerate the economic and social development of the units in the region.” 

On April 12, 1996, the President issued Executive Order No. 325 reorganizing the Regional Development Council, repealing Executive Order No. 308, series of 1987, as amended by E.O. Nos. 318, (s. of 1988), 347 (s. of 1989), 455 (s. of 1991) and 505 (s. of 1992).

Functions

The Regional Development Council has the following functions:

1. Coordinate the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of short and long-term regional development plans and investment programs, regional physical framework plan and special development plans and investment programs, regional physical framework plan and special development plans, including the formulation of policy recommendations.
2. Integrate approved development plans of provinces and cities, line agencies, state universities and colleges, government-owned and controlled corporations and special development authorities in the region into the regional development plan.
3. Review, prioritize, and endorse to the national government the annual and multi-year sectoral investment programs of the region for funding and implementation.
4. Review and endorse to the national government the annual budgets of agency regional offices, state colleges and universities and special development authorities.
5. Promote and direct the inflow and allocation of private investments in the region to support regional development objectives, policies and strategies;
6. Review and endorse national plans, programs and projects proposed for implementation in the region;
7. As required by the Investment Coordinating Committee (ICC), review and endorse projects of national government agencies that have impact on the region and projects of LGUs in the region requiring national government financial exposure which may come in the form of guarantees, national government budget appropriations of subsidies, among others.
8. The Council shall complete its review and forward its recommendations through a resolution to ICC within sixty (60) days from the submission of sectoral programs/projects to the Council.
9. Proponent agencies/LGUs shall coordinate with the Council at the early stage of project development, preferably at the identification or feasibility study (F/S) preparation stage, and shall have made available the necessary requirements requested by the Council by the time the program is submitted for review. Failure of the Council to submit its recommendations within the period afore-stated shall be deemed equivalent to an approval of the particular program/project.
10. Initiate and coordinate the development, funding and implementation of regional and special development projects such as those involving several agencies or LGUs;
11. Coordinate the monitoring and evaluation of development projects undertaken by government agencies, local government units, state colleges and universities, government-owned and/or controlled corporations and special development authorities in the region;
12. Perform other related functions and activities as may be necessary to promote and sustain the socio-economic development in the region, e.g.: (a)assist local government units, when so requested, in the preparation of local development plans and programs and in fulfilling the requirements for evaluation of local government projects to be requested for official development assistance (ODA) grant financing; (b) Provide capability building assistance to local government officials and staff, when so requested. In the areas of local governance, fiscal administration and project development and management.