CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY(February 2) — In a first for Northern Mindanao, Misamis Occidental Gov. Henry Oaminal has been elected chairman of the Regional Development Committee–Mindanao Area Committee (RDCOM-MAC), placing Region 10 at the center of island-wide development planning and policy coordination.
Oaminal was unanimously chosen during the RDCOM-MAC’s 41st Conference and Reorganization, a two-day gathering of Regional Development Council (RDC) leaders held in Davao City. He is the first official from Northern Mindanao to lead the interregional body, a post traditionally occupied by leaders from other Mindanao regions.
The RDCOM-MAC serves as the main coordinating platform for Mindanao’s interregional development agenda, aligning regional programs, addressing shared socioeconomic and security challenges, and elevating investment and policy concerns to the national government.
Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, chair of the Region 12 (Soccsksargen) RDC, was elected co-chairman.
Region 10 now under the spotlight
With the election, Northern Mindanao — covering the provinces of Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, and Misamis Occidental, and the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Malaybalay, Oroquieta, Ozamiz, and Tangub — assumes a more visible role in shaping Mindanao-wide priorities on infrastructure, food security, energy, and post-conflict development.
Development planners noted that the leadership shift also places greater scrutiny and expectations on Region 10, which has positioned itself as a logistics, trade, and agribusiness hub for Mindanao.
As RDCOM-MAC chair, Oaminal is expected to help push for stronger interregional coordination and follow-through, amid recurring concerns that Mindanao development plans often stall at the implementation stage due to fragmented governance and uneven regional capacity.
Call for unity — and results
In a statement, Oaminal underscored Mindanao leaders’ shared responsibility in advancing national development, echoing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s message on the island’s strategic role.
“We heard the president say the future of Mindanao is the hope of all in the Philippines. Let us put that into action,” Oaminal said.
He thanked fellow RDC leaders for the trust placed in him, describing his election as a signal of collective commitment across regions.
“This is not just an honor for Region 10, but a shared responsibility for all of Mindanao. As one island with diverse strengths and challenges, we must continue working together to turn our collective plans into lasting progress for our people,” he added.
From regional branding to island-wide agenda
Oaminal also outlined plans to expand the “Asenso” development framework — from Asenso Misamis Occidental to Mas Asenso Northern Mindanao, and eventually toward what he called “One Asenso Mindanao,” anchored on unity, peace, and shared prosperity.
Observers said the challenge now lies in translating the unifying vision into measurable outcomes, particularly in lagging and conflict-affected areas, where Mindanao-wide coordination has long been tested.
