TACLOBAN CITY – The Regional Development Council (RDC) and members of the region’s highest policy-making body recently formu9lated an initial strategy for the regional development plan to accelerate regional development in the next 6-10 years as a result of the RDC strategic planning workshop, spearheaded by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)

In an interview with Leyte Samar Daily Express, RDC vice chairman Buenaventura C. Go-Soco, NEDA regional director, told that among the strategic plans in the region are on creating jobs and on increasing income.

“There are certain strategic that has been identified to increase productivity in our major crops, to be able to look at small and medium enterprises, strengthen our eco-tourism and even the information and communication technology through call center,” Go-Soco said.

Go-Soco further said that they are trying to evaluate the situation assessment for appropriate key strategies in main areas, particularly the greater participation of local government units in economic development and improving government operations and infrastructure facilities.

“Thus, we will be holding another workshop. This will be a sectoral committee on November 10 and 11 and an RDC workshop on the 19th of the same month, for the next development plan for the region,” Go-Soco added.

This year’s economics stationers show that among the prevailing problems in the region that is affecting the country’s economic status are the poverty incidence, low agricultural and fishery productivity, employment and population related problems.

Also, the report states that palay production in the region is only at 23%, livestock at 15.89%, account 11.62% and agri services at 8.1% only.

Moreover, with the regions assessment on employed household population only 12.2% exist in the rural areas while only 46.5% in Leyte generally.

Eastern Visayas ranks second in the area planted with coconut after Southern Tagalog region and in national coco production; Region 8 ranks 3rd from Regions 11 and 9 with 1.5 kilometric tons recorded.

Other related problems encountered by the region are the transport facilities, high power arte, high interest rate on loans and absence of LGU support.