DEPDev Regional Office I - Ilocos

𝗥𝗦𝗗𝗖-𝟭 𝗡𝗢𝗗𝗦 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗦𝗢𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧, 𝗣𝗨𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗦 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗥 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗛 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗠𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗜

The Regional Social Development Committee-1 (RSDC-1) successfully convened its second-quarter meeting for CY 2026, bringing together key social sector regional agencies, provincial local government units, the academe, and private sector. The Committee reviewed and approved the sector’s accomplishments and monitoring reports and addressed pressing health challenges across the region. The virtual meeting presided over by Chairperson and DSWD Region 1 Director Marie Angela Gopalan, served as a vital platform for assessing the region’s social sector achievements and current interventions including actions reinforcing Region 1 healthcare safety nets.

The highlight of the meeting is the approval of the Social Sector Component of the 2025 Regional Development Report (RDR), where members reviewed regional progress in health, education, poverty reduction, and social welfare and protection against their annual targets and affirmed the sector’s priority strategies. To ensure the effective implementation of priority programs and projects aligned with the region’s development goals, the committee reviewed the Regional Project Monitoring and Evaluation System (RPMES) monitoring plan for CY 2026 and 1st quarter 2026 accomplishment report. This process reinforced the committee’s commitment to results-based monitoring and accountability in program delivery.

Public health initiatives were likewise emphasized particularly the implementation of the PhilHealth’s Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), underscoring its role in expanding access to primary care services, including free consultations, essential medicines, laboratory tests, and preventive health screenings for members and their dependents. In addition, the status of the National Immunization Program in the region was presented, providing updates on ongoing efforts and planned actions to strengthen disease prevention and improve community health outcomes.

As the meeting concluded, the RSDC-1 reaffirmed its commitment to data-driven governance and strengthened inter-agency collaboration to achieve the region’s social goals of promoting human capital, and social development, increasing income-earning ability, and reducing vulnerabilities among communities. 𝒎𝒅𝒋

𝗥𝗗𝗖-𝟭 𝗣𝗦𝗥𝘀 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 𝗥𝗢𝗟𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗔𝗗𝗩𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗗𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟𝗢𝗣𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦

The Private Sector Representatives (PSRs) of the Regional Development Council-Region-1 (RDC-1) held their 1st Regular Meeting for Calendar Year 2026 on May 28, 2026 at the JOOCH, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Regional Office 1 in San Fernando City, La Union.

Presided over by RDC-1 PSR Lead Convenor Mary Jane C. Ortega, the meeting gathered 10 of the 15 PSRs to discuss measures that support regional development, public service delivery, youth participation, social protection, energy concerns, health, and nutrition in the Ilocos Region.

The PSRs discussed the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on indicators that are regressing or need acceleration. Members were asked to align projects, activities, and submit 2023 to 2026 accomplishments with the identified SDG indicators using a matrix to be circulated by the Secretariat.

The body also considered a proposal to strengthen Youth Development Council outreach, mapping, accreditation, consultation, and coordination with youth organizations. Inputs centered on the need for baseline data, clearer institutional roles, youth formation, parent involvement, data governance, monitoring, and alignment with the Regional Development Plan and the SDGs.

On ease of doing business, the PSRs discussed delayed government transactions, repeated requirements, differences in local government processes, digitalization gaps, local ordinances that add processing steps, and Citizens Charter compliance. The discussion also covered the need to document actual cases from businesses and stakeholders to support process improvements.

The meeting also discussed the proposal urging concerned government agencies to immediately grant and subsidize an Emergency Cost of Living Allowance (ECOLA) for minimum wage earners. The proposal was presented as a government-funded support measure to help address the effect of higher fuel, transportation, utility, commodity, and agricultural input costs on purchasing power, without passing the cost to employers.

For power concerns, the PSRs discussed recent grid disturbances, transmission and generation issues, VAT on electricity charges, system losses, subsidies, and comparative electricity rates in Region I. The body also considered support for measures seeking VAT relief on electricity-related charges and the exclusion of system losses, universal charges, subsidies, and related charges from the VAT base.

The PSRs also took up National Convention-approved resolutions, updates on the Moringa oleifera and chocolate carabao milk feeding and research initiative in La Union, and Project Tooth Day, which seeks to integrate supervised toothbrushing and oral health education into supplementary feeding programs for children.

As agreed, after some refinements, the agenda items and proposals discussed during the meeting will be referred to the appropriate RDC sectoral committees for technical review, coordination, and action within the RDC process.

The meeting concluded with the PSRs agreeing to continue coordination with the Secretariat, RDC committees, government agencies, legislators, local government units, and other partners in advancing development measures for communities, workers, businesses, children, and other sectors in Region I. 𝒆𝒑𝒒

𝗧𝗔𝗢 𝗔𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗢: 𝗗𝗘𝗣𝗗𝗲𝘃 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝟭 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗦 𝗥𝗢𝗟𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗡𝗗𝗛𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗖 𝗗𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟𝗢𝗣𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚

The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Regional Office I (DEPDev RO1) underscored the value of evidence-based planning during the Regional Dissemination Forum on the Key Indicators of the 2025 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) held on May 20, 2026.

To read the full article, kindly click: https://dro1.depdev.gov.ph/tao-ang-sentro-depdev-region-1-underscores-role-of-ndhs-in-holistic-development-planning/

𝗗𝗘𝗣𝗗𝗘𝗩 𝗥𝗢𝟭 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗗𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟𝗢𝗣𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖 𝗗𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡 𝗚𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞

The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Regional Office 1 (DEPDev RO1) opened its doors to students, researchers, partner agencies, civil society organizations, stakeholders, and members of the public on May 20 as part of its observance of the 2026 Open Government Week.

To read the full article, kindly click: https://dro1.depdev.gov.ph/depdev-ro1-brings-regional-development-work-closer-to-the-public-during-2026-open-government-week/

View related post: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DaZVzwYxp/

𝗥𝗗𝗖-𝟭 𝗔𝗗𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗘 𝗔𝗗𝗩𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝗗𝗜𝗔𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗨𝗘 𝗢𝗡 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗜 𝗗𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟𝗢𝗣𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗦

The Regional Development Council Region I (RDC-1) convened its first Advisory Committee (AdCom) Meeting on May 19, 2026 at the Romualdez Hall of the House of Representatives, gathering legislators, regional officials, national government agencies, local government units and private sector representatives to discuss development concerns affecting communities across the Ilocos Region.

To read the full article, kindly click: https://dro1.depdev.gov.ph/rdc-1-advisory-committee-advances-dialogue-on-region-i-development-concerns/

📣 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲, 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 (𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐃𝐞𝐯) 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐍𝐨. 𝟏 joins the nation in observing Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Month this May 2026 in support of the continuing efforts to improve government service delivery under Republic Act No. 11032, otherwise known as the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, which mandates the reduction of bureaucratic red tape through the streamlining of government processes.

Pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 818, s. 2025, declaring the month of May of every year as the National Ease of Doing Business Month, the observance serves as a platform to highlight government initiatives on regulatory reform, reduced transaction costs, and improved customer experience.

With this year’s theme, “𝐀𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 (𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐀): 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐬,” DEPDev reaffirms its commitment to responsive, efficient, and transparent public service.

For more information, visit Anti-Red Tape Authority’s official webpage: https://arta.gov.ph/eodbmonth/

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The 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲, 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝟏 (𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐃𝐞𝐯 𝐑𝐎𝟏) joins the nation in the observance of the “2026 𝑶𝙥𝒆𝙣 𝙂𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙧𝒏𝙢𝒆𝙣𝒕 𝑾𝙚𝒆𝙠” from May 18 to 22, 2026 through Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 119.

DEPDev RO1 will hold an open house on May 20, 2026 from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM entitled, “𝗣𝗔𝗣-𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗥𝗣𝗠𝗘𝗦: 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵, 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻”. Get to know more about DEPDev through:
📌 An exhibit of the region’s development plans and programs
📌 An orientation of the Electronic Regional Project Monitoring and Evaluation System (eRPMES)
📌 Q&A with DEPDev RO1 staff on Planning, Investment Programming, Development Research, Project Monitoring, and Innovation

“Open Government Week” is anchored on the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023–2028, the initiative advances one of the administration’s key governance strategies: improving bureaucratic efficiency while strengthening participatory governance and citizen engagement across the public sector. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM), through the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP), will spearhead the nationwide observance.

See you all here!