The NEDA Regional Office Cordillera (NRO CAR) strengthened its ties with the officials from the Head Office headed by Regional Development Group (RDG) Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos during the latter’s regional visit on June 7, 2023. Said visit is part of his commitment to engage with all the regional offices in the country. He was joined by Dir. Remedios Endencia of the Regional Development Staff.
NRO Dir. Susan A. Sumbeling said that the visit is strategic for the NRO as it served as a forum to put forward the internal concerns of the office and the regional development priorities of the region and get support and guidance on these. Setting the discussion, the NRO was introduced including its key engagements, major programs, and activities. Director Sumbeling highlighted the region’s support for the Social Preparation of CAR into an Autonomous Region (SPCAR) program, among others.
In response, Undersecretary Abad Santos and Director Endencia welcomed and expressed support for the concerns raised. He affirmed the need to provide specialized capacity building for NROs on policy development, basic planning, and communication advocacy considering the new development trends and thrusts requiring new skills and processes. He added that he will work with the Central Office to identify and develop targeted trainings for the regional offices.
On the Regional Development Council (RDC) Hall improvement project, he said that the Council being the highest policy-making body in the region should have a venue that is representative of its importance.
Asst. Regional Dir. Stephanie Christiansen expounded on regional autonomy as the main development concern of the region. She also presented CAR’s issue on regional equity in terms of development budget allocation given its difficult terrain and dispersed settlement pattern; and the implementation of the full devolution mandated by EO 138. Usec. Abad Santos and Director Endencia expressed their keen interest in these matters and assured the NRO of their unwavering support in looking into these at the national level.
The regional visit of the Undersecretary Abad Santos and RDS provided an avenue for addressing critical concerns and affirming their support and dedication to the development and progress of the Cordillera Administrative Region. By Gerald D. Segundo
