TACLOBAN CITY – The Regional Development Council (RDC) in Eastern Visayas has endorsed more than P238.5 billion worth of projects and programs for funding in the 2026 national budget.
The proposed funding is allocated as follows: P177.45 billion for infrastructure projects; P28.35 billion for economic development; P28.28 billion for social development; and P4.4 billion for development administration.
The first-quarter RDC-8 meeting was held on March 27 in Ormoc City, where high-impact and big-ticket projects were approved for endorsement to national agencies for funding consideration.
Among the major infrastructure projects endorsed are the Benjamin Romualdez International Convention Center in Tacloban – P750 million; redevelopment of Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport, including a new terminal – Over P2 billion; seaport in Babatngon, Leyte – Over P930 million; new bridge in Biliran province – P500 million; and the San Juanico Bridge 2 – P9.17 billion.
RDC-8 Chairperson and Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez expressed optimism that these projects will gain national support, particularly from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who personally attended the March 14 RDC-8 meeting in Tacloban City.
“It was the first time a President attended an RDC-8 meeting. During the session, he instructed his Cabinet members to work closely with us,” Gomez said in a media interview.
However, RDC-8 officials acknowledged that not all endorsed projects secure funding.
NEDA-8 Regional Director Maylene Rosales, whose office serves as the RDC secretariat, revealed that in 2025, only P9.2 billion of the P157.4 billion proposed projects received funding.
With the President’s backing and the support of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, RDC-8 hopes that a larger share of its 2026 proposals will receive approval and funding.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)