“A goal without a plan is just a wish”. Thus, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Region V aimed to become the most liveable region by spearheading and translating the five-year Bicol Regional Development Plan to the implementation its Programs and Projects by observing the details of the objectives and strategies of the plans from year 2011 to year 2016.

With this, the classes of MBA 220-Development Management and MBA 211 -Development Issues and Problems in Business of the Ateneo de Naga University Graduate School conducted a Class symposium entitled: A Strong Development Vision Towards a Competitive Region: The Bicol Region Development Plan on March 7, 2015 at the CLG Training Room, Ateneo de Naga University with Mr. Nicolas Beda A. Priela and Dr. Malu C. Barcillano as the class professors, respectively.

The objective of the activity is to fully understand the Bicol Development Plan as well as to know the roles of the stakeholders in its implementation.

The speakers were Mr. Wilfredo B. Prilles, Jr., City Planning and Development Officer and Mr. Noe Racho, Senior Staff of NEDA V. Mr. Prilles presented the Naga City’s strategies as the tiger economy, by building and sustaining a ‘strong organization’ thereby having a motivated the workforce to ensure better service delivery to have positive impact on the economic and socio-cultural aspects of the City. Mr.Noe Racho thoroughly discussed the regional vision, the current realities of the region and the strategies on how to achieve it. He further discussed the four (4) key strategies specifically (1) ensuring economic growth, (2) providing the basic needs, (3) improving infrastructure; and (4) sustaining development.  He encouraged the participants and those in the academe to support the attainment of the Regional Development Plan (RDP), thus ensuring positive outcomes.

The positive responses of the presenters on the questions, clarifications and inquiries of the participants made the activity more informative and useful in the said classes.

***

-Lesley Ann M. Jimenez

MBA Student