TACLOBAN CITY — Three local chief executives (LCEs) from Leyte have been nominated for the chairmanship of the Regional Development Council (RDC)–Eastern Visayas, the region’s highest policy-making and planning body.
The nominees are Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot’ Petilla, Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, and Baybay City Mayor Jose Carlos Cari.
All three have extensive experience in governance and regional affairs. Petilla previously chaired the RDC from 2011 to 2012, while Torres-Gomez held the post from 2022 until earlier this year.
Their nominations were made during the RDC’s full council meeting on Thursday, Sept.18, at the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev) Regional Office VIII, presided over by acting RDC chair and DepDev VIII Regional Director Meylene Rosales. Also present were League of Municipalities of the Philippines–Leyte Chapter president and Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla.
Under Executive Order 325, the RDC chair and co-chair may be chosen from among provincial governors, mayors of capital towns and cities, league presidents, or private-sector representatives. The final appointment rests with the President.
Mayor Torres-Gomez, speaking earlier during her final full council meeting in June, said she did not want to preempt Malacañang’s decision but noted: “Service is a privilege that not everyone is given. When it is handed to you, you make your time matter.”
Mayor Cari said he is ready for the challenge should he be chosen: “I have plans not only for Baybay but for the whole region.”
Governor Petilla, for his part, said his priority would be to improve attendance and participation in council meetings.
“One major reason why I allowed myself to be nominated is because I want to help the RDC. The best way I can do that is to ensure members — especially regional directors — are present so discussions run smoothly,” he said. Petilla also stressed the importance of having agency heads, not just representatives, at the quarterly meetings.
Aside from the three LCEs, three private-sector leaders were also nominated for the RDC co-chairmanship. Under the rules, if the chair is from the government, the co-chair must come from the private sector and vice versa.
The RDC, composed of local governments, regional line agencies, and private-sector representatives, is tasked with harmonizing development initiatives and recommending policies for Eastern Visayas.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
