President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. appointed Misamis Occidental Governor Henry S. Oaminal as Chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC) for Region X (Northern Mindanao) for the term 2025–2028, recognizing his leadership in local governance, peacebuilding, and regional collaboration.
In a statement, Oaminal expressed his deep gratitude to President Marcos for the trust and confidence, as well as to the RDC-X officers and members, including provincial governors, city mayors, heads of national government agencies,and private sector representatives.
“I am deeply honored and thankful to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the trust and confidence in appointing me as Chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC)-X for the term 2025–2028,” Oaminal said.
“Padayon ta sa pagkugi (let us continue working) — this time, not only for Asenso Misamis Occidental, but for Asenso Northern Mindanao,” the governor added.
He also acknowledged the support of his fellow Misamisnons and his Asenso team, saying that unity and collaboration have been key to the province’s progress. “Our unity has brought me to this position. This appointment carries great responsibility and accountability, and with it, the challenges that lie ahead,” he continued.
The Regional Development Council serves as the highest policymaking and coordinating body for socioeconomic development in each region. It harmonizes local and national priorities through the formulation and implementation of the Regional Development Plan and Investment Program.
As RDC Chairperson, Oaminal will spearhead efforts to align Northern Mindanao’s growth strategies with the Marcos administration’s Philippine Development Plan, emphasizing infrastructure expansion, peace and order, and sustainable local economies.
Oaminal’s appointment comes amid Misamis Occidental’s steady rise as one of the top-performing provinces in the country. Under his leadership, the province achieved a 66.49% increase in locally sourced income, ranking fifth nationwide in per capita gross domestic product (GDP), and earning reclassification as a first-class province.
Beyond economic performance, Oaminal was recognized nationally for his peace and security initiatives. In 2024, he received the Gawad Parangal from the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) for his role in steering Misamis Occidental towards lasting peace.
For nearly four decades, the province was considered a rebel hotspot, until President Marcos declared it insurgency-free in September 2024, a milestone achieved during Oaminal’s first term as governor. His administration’s whole-of-nation approach, anchored on the vision of “Misamisnon Magpuyong Malinawon, Malambuon, ug Malipayon”(Peaceful, Progressive, and Happy Misamisnon), has since become a model for regional development.
As RDC-X Chair, Oaminal is expected to build on this success by strengthening coordination among provinces and cities in Northern Mindanao – Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, and Misamis Occidental – toward a shared vision of inclusive growth, peace, and resilience.
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