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Outgoing Regional Director Agnes E. Tolentino, CESO III (second from left), formally hands over the symbolic banner to new NEDA 5 Regional Director Luis G. Banua (middle). The banner symbolizes the NEDA 5 workforce, accomplishments, and brand of leadership.

Engr. Luis G. Banua is formally and officially welcomed as the new Regional Director (RD) of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region 5 in a ceremonial turn-over activity held on January 9, 2023, at NEDA Region 5, Legazpi City.

Before the symbolic gesture of handing over the helm of leadership to RD Banua, outgoing RD Agnes E. Tolentino, CESO III, shared NEDA Region 5’s most remarkable accomplishments and recognitions received for 2022 in the areas of development planning, investment programming, monitoring and evaluation, general administration and support services, and office management.

RD Tolentino capped her presentation with a message of appreciation and gratitude to the workforce of NEDA Region 5 before officially handing over the symbolic NEDA Region 5 banner to RD Banua. RD Tolentino will now head to CALABARZON as the new leader of NEDA  CALABARZON, the same office where she first served as RD before her assignment in NEDA Region 5 in 2014.

In his acceptance speech, RD Banua expressed his appreciation for all the activities initiated by NEDA Region 5, in coordination with NEDA CALABARZON, that facilitated the smooth transition between the two regional offices. He also expressed his advocacy for building and maintaining strong partnerships and cooperation among regional offices.

“Let us work together for a more productive 2023 and towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, the Ambisyon Natin 2040, and our planned targets for this year and up to 2028. Let us aim for excellent service and continuous improvement to lead the Bicolano people towards a better life,” RD Banua concluded.

Regional Development Group (RDG) Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos, Assistant Secretary Greg L. Pineda, and Dir. Remedios S. Endencia witnessed the turnover ceremony. They extended their well-wishes and guidance to the two RDs and all the attending personnel. Also present were NEDA CALABARZON Assistant Regional Director (ARD) Engr. Susana S. Santiago and NEDA 5 ARD Edna Cynthia S. Berces, Division Chiefs, and Regional Office personnel.

A briefing session shortly ensued to walk RD Banua through the profiles of the Bicol Region and NEDA Region 5. ARD Berces discussed the region’s demographic and economic profiles with emphasis on economic performance, recovery situation, COVID-19 situation, prices, labor and employment, significant development constraints and corresponding responses, and economic outlook. Further, Engr. Dinna Lynne Ordoña, Project Development, Investment Programming, and Budgeting Division Chief, also presented the major infrastructure projects in Bicol Region. Mr. Dave Briones gave the demographic profile of the manpower complement of NEDA Region 5.

The activity culminated with an open forum to provide an avenue for NEDA Region 5 personnel to direct their inquiries, issues, and concerns to the attending officials from the RDG.

(Left) In his acceptance speech, RD Banua shares his appreciation for turnover initiatives that paved way for the smooth transition between NEDA CALABARZON and 5. RD Banua also calls for strengthened ties and cooperation among the regions. (Right) Usec. Abad Santos extends his well-wishes to RD Banua and RD Tolentino, and shares some guidance on NEDA’s main endeavors for 2023.
RD Tolentino, in her message, highlights NEDA 5’s accomplishments and recognitions received for 2022. She also expresses her appreciation and gratitude to NEDA 5 personnel before handing over the symbolic banner to RD Banua.

Engr. Khryza Beth T. Lladoc/NEDA5