Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez has proposed a new law to create the Eastern Visayas Development Authority (EVDA). The goal is to help Region 8 recover and grow in the long term.
According to Romualdez, the EVDA will be based in Tacloban City. It will serve as the main agency to lead and manage both national and local programs in the provinces of Leyte, Biliran, Southern Leyte, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Western Samar, and the cities of Ormoc and Tacloban.
Romualdez said Eastern Visayas needs a strong and focused agency with clear goals to help reduce poverty. He believes this can be done through better planning, management, and investments from the government and private companies.
Tingog Party-list Representatives Andrew Julian K. Romualdez and Jude A. Acidre are also co-authors of the bill.
If the law is approved, the EVDA will create a long-term development plan. This will guide investments, infrastructure projects, and help communities become stronger against disasters.
The EVDA will also have the power to manage all unused Yolanda rehabilitation funds and resources to make sure they are used properly for development projects.
