CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--Regional Development Council (RDC)-10 Chairperson and Misamis Occidental Gov. Philip T. Tan called for sustained commitment to the region’s socioeconomic recovery efforts amid the lingering pandemic. 

In his State of the Region Address during the 126th RDC-10 Full Council meeting, June 24, Tan recognized the strong resolve of the members and development partners in overcoming the unprecedented challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Year 2020 was supposed to be a banner year for the region given our strong economic performance over the past three years. True enough, the results of the Gross Regional Domestic Product show that our region’s economy contracted by 5.2 percent last year due to the pandemic,” Tan said. 

While the economic performance is well within the adjusted target range and better than the country’s average of negative 9.6 percent, the decline takes the region back ten years in terms of the ten-year regional growth average. 

“Our government will go to great lengths for all of us because public service is our calling. What has been pronounced in 2020 is that 20/20 vision does not rely solely on how we perceive our situation, but on focusing on the essentials, what lasts when all else fades - our relationships, our well-being, and ultimately, our lives. There can be no trade-off,” the governor added. 

The RDC-10 chair solicited the support of the public in the rollout of the vaccination program, as well as assured the body that the government is on top of managing the public health crisis. 

Moreover, NEDA-10 Regional Director Mylah Faye Aurora B. Cariño, shared the 2020 Regional Development Report, containing the initial assessment of the Regional Development Plan 2017-2022 implementation in the past three years, the region’s recovery efforts amid the pandemic, and other development initiatives and accomplishments.    

During the meeting, Department of Health Center for Health Development–Northern Mindanao Regional Director Jose R. LLacuna, reported that the health agency is closely monitoring the provinces of Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, and Misamis Oriental as these are considered under high risk areas of the pandemic. 

Llacuna also thanked the local government units (LGUs), stating that the vaccines would be of no use without the implementers at the local level. 

Committee Chairpersons presented various development concerns and priorities recommended by the Sector and Special Committees. A total of 38 action resolutions were passed during the meeting, several of which aim to address COVID-19 impact and other development concerns. (NEDA-10)