Section 34Sec./Art. 34

Regional Development Committee (RDCom). - The RDCom shall shall be composed of the Secretaries of the DBM, DEPDev, and DILG, the Executive Secretary, three (3) RDC Area Committee chairpersons representing Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, and three (3) regional development experts from the private sector or academe representing Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The RDCom Area Committees for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao shall be created to assist the RDCom in the performance of its functions. The RDCom Area Committees shall serve as the clearing house for interregional concerns to be elevated to the RDCom.

The RDCom Area Committees shall be composed of the RDC chairpersons and co-chairpersons of their respective island groups: Provided, That the Chairperson of the Metro Manila Council shall be part of the Luzon RDC Area Committee, and the Chairperson of the Bangsamoro Economic Development Council of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao shall be part of the Mindanao RDC Area Committee.

The RDCom Area Committee members shall select from among themselves their chairperson and co-chairperson. The three (3) RDCom Area Committees shall represent their respective island groups in the RDCom.

The Secretary of the DEPDev shall serve as the chairperson of the RDCom.

The RDCom shall have the following functions:

(a) Formulate and monitor the implementation of policies that reduce regional development disparities;

(b) Serve as the clearing house for key regional development policy and program proposals which impact on two (2) or more regions;

(c) Formulate and monitor the implementation of the framework for regional development of the PDP;

(d) Promote equitable allocation of resources among regions by providing recommendations to the DBCC on the guidelines for the regional allocation of budgetary resources;

(e) Periodically review the viability of the regional configuration of the country, and recommend to the ED Council the re-delineation of regions, as necessary; and

(f) Periodically review the composition, structure, and operating mechanism of the RDCs and recommend necessary changes to the President.