The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), as mandated by the Philippine Constitution, is the country’s social and economic development planning and policy coordinating agency. It consists of the NEDA Board and the NEDA Secretariat.

The RDC is the highest policy-making body in the region and serves as the counterpart of the NEDA Board at the sub-national level. It is the primary institution that coordinates and sets the direction of all economic and social development efforts in the region. The RDC is the primary institution that coordinates and sets the direction of all economic and social development efforts in the region. It also serves as a forum where local efforts can be related and integrated with national development activities.

The NEDA Regional Office, as RDC Secretariat, provides the administrative and operational support to the RDC Full Council and all its committees.

The NEDA is an oversight and coordinating agency that renders services and support primarily to government line agencies, government corporations, state universities and colleges, local government units (provinces, cities and municipalities), and, to some extent, non-government, civic, and business organizations. The NEDA, likewise, renders limited assistance on the information needs of researchers, professionals, students, and media practitioners. As the Technical Secretariat of the Regional Development Council, the NEDA Regional Office provides technical and administrative support to the day-to-day transactions and activities of the RDC.

Technical Assistance. Technical assistance to provinces, cities, regional line agencies and state universities and colleges (SUCs) on development planning and assessment, policy formulation, project development and investment programming, project monitoring and evaluation of  programs and projects .

Request for RDC endorsement of project proposals.  Project proposals submitted by local government units (LGUs), national government central and regional offices and SUCs for RDC endorsement may range from simple concept papers to feasibility studies.  A project evaluation report will be prepared by the NEDA Region 5 secretariat   to  serve   as basis  for   endorsement to   concerned   sectoral  committees.

Request for equipment /use of facilities.  Regional line agencies and other entities request the use of NEDA conference hall, briefing room and equipment for meetings subject to conditions set by the management.

Request for information.  Information dissemination on the regional socio-economic indicators, development programs, projects and activities as maybe requested  by stakeholders in the region.

Request for services. The NEDA staff provides inputs to technical documents, provides technical assistance as resource persons and as members of technical committees/task forces that requires attendance and participation to development related activities.

Volunteer Coordination. The NEDA Region V has been assisting PNVSCA in assessing requests for foreign volunteers by government agencies, local government units, state universities and colleges, and non-government organizations. Foreign volunteers come from different Foreign Volunteer Organizations (VFOs). These are Australia Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD), German Development Service (DED), Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV), Korea Overseas Volunteers (KOV), United States Peace Corps (USPC), and Volunteers for Information and Development Assistance (VIDA). The Philippine National Volunteer Service coordinating Agency (PNVSCA), a NEDA attached agency, is the government agency in charge of promoting and coordinating volunteer programs and services in the country. PNVSCA closely works with other government agencies, non-government organizations, the academe, the corporate group, the media and other partners in converging and linking the different volunteering efforts and resources so that they are aligned with national priorities and assist especially the marginalized sectors and communities. PNVSCA takes the lead in advocating and recognizing the contributions of volunteers to nation-building and international cooperation. The Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) holds office at: NEDA Complex, EDSA, Quezon City Contact numbers and addresses are: Operation Division – (632) 385-1729 and (632) 381-0559 Administrative Division – (632) 927-6847 Office of the Director – (632) 435-7999 telefax URL: www.pnvsca.gov.ph

Who may avail of the Services:

Regional line agencies, other development bodies, SUCs, schools, implementing agencies, LGUs and other concerned entities.

Fees or Charges:

No fees or charges shall be collected or paid in availing the service.

Service availability:

The service is available  Monday  to  Friday  from  8:00  AM to 5:00 PM except holidays. 

The Bicol Region is located in the southernmost tip of Luzon Island, the largest island in the Philippine archipelago. The total land area of the region is 18,054.3 km2 (6,970.8 sq mi), which or 5.9% of the total land area of the country. Around 69.3% of the total land area is alienable and disposable while the remaining 30.7% is public forest areas.

The region is bounded by Lamon Bay to the north, Pacific Ocean to the east, and Sibuyan Sea and Ragay Gulf to the west. The northernmost province, Camarines Norte, is bordered to the north by the province of Quezon, thereby connecting the region to the rest of Luzon.

The region is composed of six provinces: Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon and the island-provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate. It has one independent component city, Naga City, and six component cities — Iriga, Legazpi, Ligao, Masbate City, Sorsogon City, and Tabaco City. Masbate City and Sorsogon City are cities in their namesake provinces.

As of 2010, Camarines Sur is the largest province in area and population, occupying 5,481.6 km2 (2,116.5 sq mi) or around 30.4% of the total land area with a population of 1,822,371. Catanduanes is the smallest in area as well as population with only 1,511.5 km2 (583.6 sq mi) or 8.4% of the total regional area and a population of 246,300. The political and administrative center of the region is Legazpi City while the religious center is Naga City — which is also colloquially known as the Queen City of Bicol.