Leyte governor, two city mayors shortlisted to lead Eastern Visayas Regional Dev’t Council

AGRI-NEWS | NATIONAL Posted on 2025-09-22 06:13:43

TACLOBAN CITY – The Eastern Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC) has endorsed three local chief executives to chair the region’s top policymaking body for the next three years.

Nominated were Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla, Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, and Baybay City Mayor Jose Carlos Cari.

The RDC announced Friday that the shortlist has been submitted to Malacañang for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s approval and appointment.

Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Region 8 Director Meylene Rosales, acting RDC chair, expressed confidence that the appointment will be given priority.

“We really cannot say when the appointment will be out, but we are confident this will be acted upon since President Marcos has high regard for the RDC. In fact, he even presided over a special meeting with the council here,” Rosales said.

Meanwhile, new private sector representatives (PSRs) were also named: Roy Bernard Fiel (agriculture and fishery), Leo Christian Lauzon (social protection), Francisco Barredo (financial intermediation), and Judah Aliposa (environment). They will serve until 2028 along with five other PSRs confirmed earlier this month.

Under Executive Order (EO) 82 signed by President Marcos on Jan. 28, 2025, the RDC chair and co-chair must come from provincial governors, mayors of capital cities, league of municipalities presidents, or the private sector. If a local chief executive is appointed as chair, the co-chair will be from the private sector, and vice versa.

The RDC acts as the primary institution that sets the direction of economic and social development in Eastern Visayas, while ensuring local initiatives align with national priorities. It serves as the regional counterpart of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board.

NPO News Team | PNA-PR

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