The Regional Development Council (RDC-3) and the World Bank met last Tuesday to discuss cooperation among Central Luzon stakeholders aimed at boosting the country’s inclusive growth.

It was held at the Department of Economy, Planning and Development Region 3 office in the City of San Fernando.

RDC-3 chairperson and Zambales Governor Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. and World Bank Senior Urban Consultant Anirudh Rajashekar led the discussion, which was themed “Towards Spatial Convergence: Harnessing Cities’ Economic Potential for National and Regional Growth.”

The event also served as a platform for presenting key findings from the Philippines Urban Diagnostic Report.

The main goal of the meeting was to strengthen collaboration between government agencies and the World Bank to further develop the provinces and cities in Central Luzon toward a more inclusive national growth trajectory.

Ebdane highlighted that the RDC-3’s engagement with the World Bank helps identify regional priorities and potential World Bank support for key development initiatives.

He cited that the meeting specifically covered the Central Luzon Regional Development Plan and the Regional Investment Program, which are designed to align with the national Philippine Development Plan.

“The World Bank’s Country Partnership Framework for the Philippines (2025-2031) is also aligned with the national plan, indicating a top-down strategic consistency that facilitates regional-level cooperation,” Ebdane said.

The RDC-3 has already supported a feasibility study for the massive Manila Bay Integrated Flood Control, Coastal Defense, and Expressway Project, a major infrastructure initiative that could potentially involve World Bank funding or expertise due to the Bank’s focus on infrastructure and climate resilience.