Icot’s second time to head RDC-8
TACLOBAN CITY — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has named Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot’ Petilla as chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC) in Eastern Visayas, bringing him back to a post he last held more than ten years ago.
The appointment, confirmed through a letter signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and transmitted to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev) on October 6, was made public by the DepDev regional office on October 21.
“I am pleased to transmit the appointment of (Gov.) Carlos Jericho Petilla as chairperson, Regional Development Council, for a term of three years, which shall coincide with his term as a local elective official, signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.,” Bersamin stated in his letter.
This marks the second time Petilla has been selected to lead the RDC, the region’s highest policymaking and coordinating body composed of national government agencies, local government units, and private sector representatives.
Petilla first chaired the RDC in 2011, but his tenure was cut short when he was appointed Secretary of the Department of Energy by then-President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, a position he held from 2012 to 2015.
He succeeds Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres Gomez, who previously served as RDC chair. During the council’s September 8 meeting, Petilla, Gomez, and Baybay City Mayor Jose Carlos Cari—Petilla’s cousin—were nominated for the role.
In an earlier interview, Petilla said he accepted the appointment “without hesitation and mental reservation,” expressing hope for stronger attendance and engagement among regional directors to ensure the council’s effectiveness.
As RDC chair, Petilla is expected to lead efforts to align regional development priorities with national goals and promote greater collaboration among government agencies, the private sector, and local stakeholders across Eastern Visayas.
His appointment also continues a family legacy of leadership in the region’s development planning body. Both his mother, former governor Remedios Petilla, and his brother, former governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, previously chaired the RDC during their respective terms.
Leyte Board Member Carlo Loreto lauded the governor’s reappointment, citing his “visionary and data-driven leadership” that has strengthened governance, improved social services, and advanced economic and infrastructure development in the province.
“The RDC chairmanship is both an honor and a responsibility. It demands a leader who can unite local governments, national agencies, the private sector, civil society, and the academe around a shared agenda for inclusive growth,” Loreto said.
“Governor Petilla brings that blend of strategic thinking and collaborative leadership. Under his guidance, we can look forward to a development agenda that prioritizes competitive industries and jobs, resilient infrastructure, sustainable energy, digital innovation, and opportunities that reach every community—from our cities to the remotest barangays,” he added.
Loreto expressed confidence that under Petilla’s leadership, the region will continue to build on its resilience and drive for progress.
“Eastern Visayas has always shown courage and hope amid challenges. With Governor Petilla at the helm of the RDC, these strengths will be harnessed toward lasting progress that uplifts families, empowers youth, and honors the hard work of every Eastern Visayan,” he said.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA, JOEY A. GABIETA)
