RDC 6 to set up competitiveness committee

Western Visayas is one of eight regions of the country where a regional competitiveness committee will be set up this year as a special body under the Regional Development Council (RDC).

Capiz Governor and RDC chair Victor A. Tanco, Sr. confirmed the request of the National Competitiveness Council Philippines (NCC) for the creation of the said council in the region.

The RDC held a meeting at the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) here yesterday, April 24, to tackle the NCC request and lay down the next steps that will be made to firm up the regional committee and initial activities.

The creation of the special committee will be presented to the RDC during its next quarterly meeting by the middle of this year.

The initial meeting, presided by RDC Co-Chair Ma. Luisa C. Segovia together with NEDA6 Regional Director Ro-Ann Bacal, was attended by heads and representatives of the Iloilo Business Club, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Bacolod, Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Tourism, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Trade and Industry, NEDA, Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges, Philippine Information Agency, University of the Philippines in the Visayas, University of San Agustin, and League of Local Planning and Development Coordinators.

The first regional competitiveness committee was set up in the Bicol Region last March.The other regions where the committee is set to be established this year are Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao, SOCCSKSARGEN, CALABARZON, and Central Luzon.

The NCC Philippines, a public-private task force on Philippine competitiveness formed in 2006, moves to set up regional councils as part of the bid to improve the country’s global competitiveness as a means to reduce poverty through inclusive growth in the so-called 11 focus areas.

The work of the NCC focuses on 11 areas as follows: education and human resource development; performance governance system; streamlined business permits and licensing system; Philippine business registry; customs/national single window; infrastructure; power and energy; transparency in budget delivery; anti-corruption; ICT governance framework; and judicial reform.

original source: www.pia.gov.ph