Keeping the 43-Economic Development Sectoral Committee (EDSECOM) member-agencies updated on the programs and projects for endorsement to the Regional Development Council (RDC), the Department of Agriculture in Ilocos, as the Committee Head, hosted the 1st Quarter Regular EDSECOM meeting at the DA-RFO I 5th Floor Conference Room, San Fernando City La Union today, March 8.

An activity that aims to harmonize and complement effectively the resources as well as capacities of each of the member-agencies while drawing out solutions for every issues and concerns in the implementation of proposed and on-going development projects and interventions, the meeting also served as an avenue to discuss matters relative to resource allocation, monitoring and project evaluation.

Presided over by the Committee Chair, Regional Executive Director of DA in Ilocos, Dr. Annie Bares, the meeting provided an avenue to discuss the PRISTINE project or the Promoting Research and Innovation to Strengthen Transformation of Industries and Enterprises of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Batac, Ilocos Norte in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, the 3-year infrastructure project of the Cooperative Development Authority, the legislative agenda on salt industry, the product innovation of various Japanese medium and small enterprises, status of the El Niño Mitigation Action Plan as well as the digital payment updates of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Of these topics discussed, the PRISTINE project presented by Dr. Bjorn Santos of the MMSU through DTI’s Regional Director, Dr. Grace Falgui-Baluyan requested for the immediate endorsement of the Committee to the RDC.

However, National Economic Development Authority Region I Director Irenea Ubungen suggested for the conduct of a small group meeting prior to the endorsement to further discuss details of the project with the inclusion of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) while the 3-year infrastructure project of the CDA was immediately endorsed by the Committee.