Regional Development Council Explained

Regional Development Councils (RDCs) are the highest policy-making body governing the administrative regions of the Philippines. They serve as the subnational counterpart of the National Economic and Development Authority.^[1] All but two (Metro Manila and Bangsamoro) of the Philippines 17 regions has a Regional Development Council^[2] although Metro Manila has a metropolitan body which serves the same function as an RDC. Bangsamoro, an autonomous region, also has its own equivalent to a RDC.

Metro Manila is recognized in law as a "special development and administrative region," and was thus given a metropolitan authority;^[3] the Metro Manila Council within the MMDA serves as the National Capital Region's RDC.^[1] The defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao's (ARMM) equivalent of an RDC was the Regional Economic and Development Planning Board.^[4]

Under the Bangsamoro Organic Law, Bangsamoro is mandated to maintain the Bangsamoro Economic and Development Council (BEDC) which serves as the autonomous region's equivalent of an RDC.^[5]

List

Regional Development Councils (RDCs)

Location	Region	RDC	Official site
	Cordillera Administrative Region	Regional Development Council – CAR
	Ilocos Region	Regional Development Council – Region 1
	Cagayan Valley	Regional Development Council – Region 2
	Central Luzon	Regional Development Council – Region 3
	Calabarzon	Regional Development Council – Calabarzon
	Mimaropa	Regional Development Council – Mimaropa
	Bicol Region	Regional Development Council – Region 5
	Western Visayas	Regional Development Council – Region 6
	Central Visayas	Regional Development Council – Region 7
	Eastern Visayas	Regional Development Council – Region 8
	Zamboanga Peninsula	Regional Development Council – Region 9
	Northern Mindanao	Regional Development Council – Region 10
	Davao Region	Regional Development Council – Region 11
	Soccsksargen	Regional Development Council – Region 12
	Caraga	Regional Development Council – Region 13

RDC-equivalent body in other regions

Location	Region	RDC-equivalent body	Official site
	National Capital Region	Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)
	Bangsamoro	Bangsamoro Economic and Development Council (BEDC)

Notes and References

1. Web site: FAQs – The Regional Development Council. November 2018. August 11, 2019. National Economic and Development Authority.
2. Web site: RDC Officials/Directory . National Economic and Development Authority . 12 June 2020.
3. Web site: Republic Act No. 7924 – An Act Creating Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Defining Its Powers And Function, Providing Funds Therefor And Other Purposes. March 1, 1995. August 9, 2019. Congress of the Philippines.
4. News: BARMM to consult LGUs on regional development plan formulation . Philippine Informationa Agency . October 3, 2019. June 12, 2020.
5. News: BARMM pushes creation of economic council . June 12, 2020 . Sun Star Zamboanga . October 18, 2019.