The Mimaropa Regional Development Council (RDC) is set to create a counterpart of the national council for the ‘Balik Probinsya, Balik Pagasa Program’ (BP²) to implement the regional plan of action.
This was discussed during the virtual meeting of the RDC’s Development Administration Committee (DAC) members and representatives on August 6.
The BP² regional council will propose special committees composed of member-agencies that will specifically coordinate activities and act on matters needing immediate attention as it receives guidance and instructions from the national council.
The ‘Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa’ Program aims to address the uncontrolled upsurge of population in the National Capital Regional, which results to lack of viable and sustainable employment opportunities in the countryside, unbalanced regional development and unequal distribution of wealth.
The program is a continuing strategy to ensure balanced regional development and equitable distribution of wealth, resources and opportunities. It shall benefit low-income families who will opt to move out of NCR or other highly-urbanized cities and return or relocate to other provinces.
The regional council will highlight Key Areas and Program Components for short to long term targets. These key areas will focus in providing assistance to relocatees, empowerment of local industries, food security and agricultural productivity, housing, social welfare, health, employment, human resource and infrastructure development.
The BP² Council shall issue resolutions for confirming and identifying the basic set of criteria for the target beneficiaries. The BP² Governing Council is led by the Executive Secretary as Chair with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) as vice-chair and the National Housing Authority (NHA) as secretariat. (Melanie B. Ronquillo/PIA-MIMAROPA)
