PGMA appoints Leyretana as MEDCo chair
Quezon City (16 October) -- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has officially appointed Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana as Chair of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo), an office attached to the Office of the President mandated to coordinate and integrate Mindanao’s overall development.
For the past eight months, Leyretana has served as the Chair in an OIC capacity, following the appointment of then MEDCo Chair Jesus Dureza as head of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).
With his appointment, he is now officially bestowed with the responsibility of ensuring sustained coordination of key agencies in the implementation and monitoring of vital government infrastructure projects, and in pushing for policy reforms needed to secure a constantly improving economic environment throughout the island region.
Well-grounded on development work for Mindanao, Leyretana has acted as Deputy Presidential Assistant for Mindanao in 2001 to 2003, Executive Director of the Mindanao Peace and Development Fund (SPDA) in 2003 to February 2006, concurrent chair of the Kapit-bisig Laban sa Kahirapan (KALAHI) Mindanao, and head of the Task Force in Southern Philippines Development Authority.
As a formal local official, he was recognized for his outstanding performance as Councilor, Vice Mayor and Mayor of Cotabato City, where he was commended for his exemplary contributions to local governance, education, energization, water system, youth and furtherance of responsible parenthood and citizenship. (PIA) [top]
