ILOILO CITY, Sept 8 (PNA) -– Local leaders who are qualified to sit as chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC) are not interested in assuming the post, said National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Ro-Ann Bacal who is now serving as acting chair of the region’s top policy making body.
It was only Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. who showed up during Friday’s full council meeting and he expressed his non-interest on the chairmanship, according to Bacal.
Those who are qualified to sit as chair are governors and mayors of highly urbanized city. However, they have to be present during the nomination.
Bacal explained that the “lackluster attitude” of political leaders are due to the fact that they will already be filing their certificates of candidacy in October thus they will be very busy with the election.
“We understand and it is usually the case at the last year of the term of local government units,” she said.
She said that they will just submit their report with Jesraf Palmares from the private sector as the lone nominee for the co-chairmanship.
The law, however, provides that in the absence of the chair, the vice-chair who is the regional director of NEDA, will sit in an acting capacity.
Bacal, assured, though that the RDC will continue to function and they will “just work within their level.” (PNA)