Governor Jose R. Riano of Romblon, serving the second year of his second term as the Chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC) in MIMAROPA, delivered a compelling State of the Region Address (SORA) during the 83rd RDC Full Council meeting held on September 1, 2023, in Manila.
Governor Riano began by emphasizing MIMAROPA's remarkable progress, particularly the region's impressive 6.3 percent Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) growth rate in 2022.
This achievement signifies MIMAROPA's robust recovery from the challenges posed by the pandemic, even surpassing the highest pre-pandemic GRDP level recorded in 2019 by ₱6 billion.
“We need to double our efforts, given the two-year disruption caused by the pandemic,” Governor Riano emphasized. He stressed the region's commitment to achieving the goals and targets outlined in the MIMAROPA Regional Development Plan (RDP) 2023-2028, which include ending hunger by 2028, eradicating poverty by 2039, and doubling the GRDP by 2032 and 2040.
During the address, Agustin C. Mendoza, the Vice Chairperson of RDC MIMAROPA and the Regional Director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in MIMAROPA, presented an independent analysis conducted by NEDA MIMAROPA.
This analysis revealed that the region maintains a secure rice supply despite forecasts indicating the possibility of weak to moderate El Niño conditions.
Mendoza's presentation showcased that MIMAROPA's total palay production in 2022 can more than adequately meet the demand for rice, roughly double its current population. This underscores the region's resilience in ensuring food security, even in the face of potential climate-related challenges.
