December 06, 2022 – Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez takes oath as the New Regional Development Council VI (RDC) Chairperson today, during the RDC and National Economic and Development Authority VI (NEDA) orientation on the mandates and functions of the RDC and NEDA at the L’Fisher Hotel.

Joined by his wife Nikki Benitez, the oath taking was administered by Hon. Juvy Dioso, Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 49, and witnessed by the NEDA Board of Directors, City Councilors, City Department Heads, and Barangay Officials.

This council meeting was presided by the newly appointed RDC VI Chairperson Mayor Benitez, Eng. Arecia Casing, Jr. (Officer-in-Charge, Regional Director – NEDA VI, and Vice-Chairperson, RDC VI), and Cynthia Lumampao (Assistant Regional Director, RDC VI).

NEDA is the government’s independent socioeconomic planning body that serves as the technical secretariat of RDC, coordinates the formulation and implementation of the regional plan, provides technical assistance in identifying and developing programs and projects, evaluates and reviews proposed programs and projects for consideration by the RDC.

Furthermore, the governing body monitors and assess project implementation in the region, and coordinates with regional offices and local government units in the regions performance of their tasks.

The RDC Chairman shall have the following functions, powers and responsibilities:

a) Preside over the meetings of the Council;

b) Request any agency, individual member of the Council, sectoral committee or any instrumentality attached to the Council to perform other functions as the council may deem necessary, provided that such functions are within the mandates or said Office;

c) Accept, after RDC resolution authorizing him to do so, in behalf of the council, donations, contributions, grants, bequests or gifts in cash or in kind from RDC members, foreign governments, international offices, private entities, or any individual for purposes relevant to regional development and submit for approval of the council a program for its utilization;

d) Call the attention of implementing agencies and local government units to implementation problems as identified and deliberated upon by the council with the end in view of instituting corrective measures;

e) Supervise the monitoring of the implementation of major interprovincial and region wide development programs, projects and activities;

f) When called upon, represent the region in Cabinet meetings and budget review activities at the national level;

g) Direct the formulation of a comprehensive regional development plan and preparation of a system of investment programming activities at the national level;

h) Submit to the President through the NEDA Board regional plans, regional investment programs, annual development reports and other documents on the region as approved by the Council;

) Create ad hoc committees as may be required;

j) Review, revise, and approve all policy recommendations, plans, programs and projects originating from the Technical Staff before submission to the Council;

k) Supervise administrative operations including disbursements of any fund of the Council subject to the usual accounting and auditing procedures and submit a report thereon to the Council.
(Source: Bacolod City Public Information Office)