Mayor Evelio Leonardia has been named a member of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) of the 18th Congress.

The appointment of Leonardia, national president of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), was signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on September 23 and received by the mayor on October 1.

He said on Wednesday that being appointed by the President to be part of the top advisory body is both an honor and a privilege.

“This is a singular honor President Duterte has bestowed upon me. It is beyond my expectations and I hope to do the best I can to live up to the expectations of the President and serve the interest of the local government units all over the country,” he said.

Meanwhile, Leonardia said that such privilege may present opportunities to advance Bacolod City’s concerns.

Being the lone local official to be appointed to the LEDAC, Leonardia will represent all the local government units.

The LEDAC is the highest consultative and advisory body to the President on economic and development matters to integrate the legislative agenda with the national development plan.

It is composed of 20 members — the President as chair, the Vice President, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, seven members of the Cabinet designated by the President, three members of the Senate designated by the Senate President, three members of the House designated by the Speaker, and one representative each for the local government units, the youth sector, and the private sector.

Created through Republic Act 7640 in 1992, the LEDAC also serves as a venue to facilitate high-level policy discussions on vital issues and concerns affecting national development. (PNA)