The  Regional Development Council (RDC) VI Work Programming and Agenda Setting Workshop, 2015-2016 was held  last  april 15-16, at the height of the annual Panaad Festival celebrations in Negros Occidental. The workshop was  held  to determine the remaining priority concerns of the Council and its committees, set the priority 2015 to 2016 agenda of meetings, and identify  major events the Council will initiate in the remaining months of the Aquino  Administration.

RDC-VI Chairperson and Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. and Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella hosted the meeting with over 70 Council members (local chief executives, heads of regional line agencies and private sector representatives) who went to Bacolod City  for  the  workshop as as well as  enjoy the Panaad festivities.

The Council members participated actively in the discussions regarding  the opportunities and challenges of Western Visayas for this year and next year  as identified in the Updated Regional Development Plan (RDP)  for Western Visayas,2014-2016, taking into account the following: (a) rapid expansion of the tourism industry; (b) emergence of new industries; (c) the country’s participation in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC); and (d)  hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meetings in Iloilo City, Bacolod City and Boracay, Malay, Aklan, among others.

The theme for the RDC-VI Work Programming and Agenda Setting Workshop for 2015-2016 was  BRIDGE Plus that means “Boosting Regional Infrastructure Development, Good Governance and Economy (BRIDGE) focusing  on Food Security and Agriculture Sector Enhancement, Eco-Friendly Tourism and Renewable Energy Development, or the Green Energy”  strongly espoused and advocated by Chairperson Marañon, Jr..