PALO, Leyte — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has named Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez as chair of the Regional Development Council in Eastern Visayas for the 2022-2025 term of office.
Gomez was chosen among the five local chief executives that were nominated for the position which includes former Energy Secretary and Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla, Maasin City Mayor Nacional Mercado, Baybay City Mayor Jose Carlos Cari and Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez.
The President also appointed Leo Christian Lauzon as the new RDC VIII co-chairperson. Lauzon is the private sector representative in the council for the persons with special concerns including persons with disability, women, youth, children and senior citizens.
National Economic Development Authority regional director Meylene Rosales informed Gomez of her appointment in a letter dated 21 October. Gomez will replace former Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla for the post.
“We are truly happy over the honorable Mayor’s appointment, knowing fully well of her sincere commitment to help RDC VIII deliver its mandate of accelerating the socioeconomic development of Eastern Visayas,” Rosales stated in her letter.
The RDC is the highest policy-making body that sets and coordinates all economic and social development efforts in the region. It also identifies priority projects in the region for inclusion in the national budget.
Membership in the council includes heads of national government agencies in the region, provincial governors, city mayors, and presidents of the league of municipalities.
The RDC also has 15 private sector representatives to be part of the region’s highest policy making body in the next three years and it serves as the counterpart of the NEDA Board at the subnational level.