The president of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) has tendered his irrevocable resignation as member of the Regional Development Council – 7 effective Thursday, May 2.
NOCCI president Edward C. Du said he resigned because of the sudden and unilateral removal of the Tamlang Valley Sustainable Agriculture for Growth and Resiliency (TVSAGR) Project from the top three programs, activities and projects (PAP) that were presented to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his meeting with RDC chairpersons in Malacañang on April 30.
Du submitted his resignation to Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, RDC 7 chairperson.
As the private sector representative who initiated, advocated and lobbied for the TVSAGR Project approval by RDC-7, he cannot in conscience continue to be a productive member of the council, he said.
The sudden removal of the TVSAGR Project from the Top 3 PAPs “without due process and without RDC-7 full council deliberation and approval is not only improper but grossly unfair,” Du said.
Du said he worked so hard for the TVSAGARP Project’s approval by the RDC 7 in 2020, 2023 and 2024 only for it to be unilaterally removed without even the courtesy of a text message or phone call from the National Economic and Development Authority 7 to him.
TVSAGAR is a flagship Public Private Partnership project of the Negros Oriental LGU and NOCCI adopting the whole of nation approach to address food security, insurgency, and worsening climate crisis, Du said.
“Tamlang Valley is envisioned to become the food basket of the Visayas”, he added.
Du has served as a private sector representative for the RDC-7 for more than a decade.*
