Giving a direction to regional development

The approval given by the Regional Development Council to the 2008-2010 Regional Development Plan provides government agencies and the private sector in the region a clear direction for socio-economic growth.
           
The main thrust of the plan is expanded and sustainable agri-industrial productivity and competitiveness.
           
Can the plan achieve its objective of improving the socio-economic conditions in Eastern Visayas?
           
Things are looking good. Copra production and prices are on the rise. Rice production is also doing very well. The region’s mariculture zones are doing fine too. Eleven thousand (11,000) hectares were added to our agricultural areas and two thousand (2,000) hectares to our aqua culture areas from 2004 to 2006. The expansion will continue.
           
Many of our major roads are being rehabilitated. Many more kilometers of concrete roads will be rehabilitated or constructed within the plan period.
           
The RDC will pursue four major strategies: (a) job creation through economic growth, (b) enhanced social development, (c) improved infrastructure and logistics support, and (d) good governance.
           
However, we all know that the so-called “proof of the pudding is in the eating”. We won’t know whether the plan can lift our region’s economic and social condition until the projects to implement it are in place.
           
There is a lot of work to be done to get the plan achieve the 6.4 percent economic growth target the RDC has set out to accomplish.
           
Of particular importance are the challenges facing education and health. A lot of children are unable to finish elementary and secondary levels. There is also a shortage in health personnel and many health centers do not have the equipment needed to perform the services their communities need.
           
The plan should be taken seriously by project planners both in the government and private sectors by making it the basis for their actions. It could be a decision to implement a project or to invest in an industry.

Both sides should be partners in getting things done, given the direction and strategies set in the plan.