The Regional Development Council (RDC-VI) is scheduled to convene its 1st Quarter Regular Meeting on March 20  to discuss a number of concerns forwarded by its regular sector committees and special committees. Resource persons have, likewise, been invited to update the Council officers and members on specific topics for discussion.

Regional Director Paul D. Ledesma of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) will brief the provincial governors, mayors of highly-urbanized cities,  component  cities and   capital towns, presidents of League of Municipalities, RDC-VI member heads of regional line agencies and private sector representatives on the Anti-Dangerous Drugs Enforcement Activities/Operations in Western Visayas during the meeting.

The RDC-VI requested Director Ledesma to discuss  the anti-drugs operations given the recent occurrence of drug-related crimes in the region. The briefing is expected to solicit support and commitment from the local chief executives, heads of other national government agencies and the private sector leaders toward the eradication of the drug problem in the Western Visayas region.

The 1st Country Report on the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) will also be presented by Mr. Renato Bañas, Chairperson of the Negros Organic Agricultural Movement, Inc., other agenda include the  forthcoming meeting of the RDC-VI Executive Committee to review the budget proposals for 2016 of 22 national government agencies and 11 state universities and colleges slated on March 26-27 at NEDA VI as well as  the RDC-VI Work Programming and Agenda Setting Workshop for 2015 to June 2016 which is scheduled to be held in  Bacolod City on April 15-16.

The Council is also set to confer and award its members, Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick A. Mabilog and Economic Development Committee Chairperson, DOST-VI Regional Director Rowen R. Gelonga, the Plaque of Commendation as one of the Top 5 World Mayors for 2014 and the Gawad Career Executive Service Awardee for 2013, respectively.