LEGAZPI CITY, Jan 18 (PNA) -- National programs on countryside development would go on full throttle this year, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Development Council National Board said.
The NEDA RDC Board recently passed a resolution that would intensify, expand and accelerate national program thrusts towards development of the regions, said Albay Gov. Joey Salceda and national president of the RDC national committee.
Salceda who was unanimously elected president of the RDC Chairpersons, presided the other day over the 10th meeting of the NEDA Board Regional Development Committee held at the NEDA central office.
Salceda in an emailed statement said vital business tackled were the organization of an RDC Special Committee on Mindanao Power to find solution of the regions continuing power instability as well as the threat of illegal logging to Lake Lanao, a watershed that contributes almost 54 percent of energy in Mindanao.
Salceda also steered the RDCom in focusing on high power costs as the biggest single stumbling block to faster, more sustained and more inclusive economic growth.
“With improved governance, high power costs have emerged as the biggest disincentive to more domestic and foreign investments,” Salceda said.
He said the power sector has “transmogrified" into an instrument of inequitable distribution of wealth while provinces like Albay has been providing Luzon cheap geothermal energy of almost 464 megawatts (MW) while getting virtually nothing, under EPIRA it is now compelled to purchase the same power at WESM for P7.8/kwhr.
Salceda claim that with the national thrust being expanded and downloaded in the countryside, regions may see a more resolute phase towards development.
Salceda, elected as national chairman of RDC, would be assisted by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama as area chairman for Visayas and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte for the Mindanao cluster.
Last week, Salceda was earlier chosen as chair of the Luzon Area Cluster of Regional Development Councils (RDCs), which coordinates the pursuit of development concerns of 38 provinces and 67 cities. (PNA)
DCT/LAM/MSA/cbd