Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” B. Benitez, was sworn in as the new chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC) 6 at the El Fisher Hotel, Bacolod City on December 6, 2022 following his presidential appointment to lead the region’s highest policy-making body for a term of three years.

The inaugural oath was administered by Honorable Juvy V. Dioso, Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 49 and witnessed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod members, department heads and staff of the local government of Bacolod City. The ceremony was held during the Orientation on the NEDA and RDC Mandates and Functions for Newly Elected Officials of the Provinces and Highly Urbanized Cities organized by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) 6, the technical secretariat of the RDC6.

The series of orientation conducted for newly elected officials started on September where the newly-elected officials of the provinces of Capiz and Aklan were apprised on the RDC, including its sector and special committees, as well as the vital role of NEDA in the bureaucracy. The officials were made aware of the various NEDA knowledge products that are available to the public, such as the Regional Development Plan, Regional Development Investment Program, socioeconomic reports, NEDA website and Facebook page.

The NEDA VI team led by OIC-Regional Director Arecio A. Casing, Jr. and OIC-Assistant Regional Director Cynthia C. Lumampao, responded to queries relating to the office’s core functions along planning, policy formulation, project development, investment programming, monitoring and evaluation of projects, programs and activities (R. Demonteverde/DRD).