NEDA founding Director-General  Dr. Gerardo P. Sicat visited Eastern Visayas on May 5. Dr. Sicat who also visited  the region last year   saw the region’s development projects and he was able to  interview local and regional officials regarding regional development issues.

During  his visit, he went to Catbalogan City to meet  with  Mayor Stephanie Uy.  Due  to time constraint, he was not able to meet with the City Mayor but had the chance to meet with the Assistant City Planning and Development Coordinator Raul Reyes.

On May 6, Dr. Sicat had a  luncheon meeting with the Regional Development Council (RDC)  VIII Chair, Hon.. Gov. Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla,  EDC Chair RD Cynthia R. Nierras of DTI, RDC VIII PSR for the Banking Sector Francisco P. Barredo,  and RDC VIII PSR for the ICT Sector Oliver Cam.

At the meeting,   they discussed the  development of micro industries  in the region and other  relevant local and national  development issues. Dr. Sicat also  shared insights on  how Region VIII  can attract more investments. He said that one way of doing this  is by setting the minimum wage in the region without benchmarking it with  Metro Manila and protecting the manufacturing industry from restive labor unions.

After the luncheon meeting, he went  to Baybay City for a dinner meeting with the President of the Visayas State University Dr. Jose L.Bacusmo and RDC VIII PSR for the Business Sector Atty. Roy Bernard C. Fiel,  to discuss development issues in the agriculture and agri-business sectors.

After  his visit in Eastern Visayas,  Dr.Sicat is expected to visit the CARAGA Region, Davao Region and Northern Mindanao.