CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Mr. Jaime Rafael U. Paguio, past president of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber), has been appointed as co-chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC) for Northern Mindanao (Region 10) for the 2025–2028 term.
The appointment was made by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., recognizing Paguio’s long-standing leadership in regional development and his strong advocacy for private sector participation in nation building.
Paguio currently serves as chairperson of the RDC-10 Social Development Committee and is the vice chairperson of the Gonzalo and Carmen Abaya Memorial Foundation, Inc. He is also the concurrent chairperson of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), further underscoring his active role in strengthening business and investment linkages.
In a memorandum dated December 16, 2025, RDC Chairperson and Misamis Occidental Governor Atty. Henry Oaminal formally informed council members of Paguio’s appointment and called on them to extend full support and cooperation to the newly appointed co-chairperson.
In his message following the announcement, Paguio emphasized the importance of strong collaboration with the business sector, particularly the Oro Chamber. “First, I will be needing the support and counsel from the Oro Chamber, which is also ably represented in the RDC-10 by our President Almarco Brito and several other Chamber members,” he said.
He stressed that the development of Northern Mindanao and Mindanao as a whole requires active private sector involvement.
“Region 10 and Mindanao need the full support of the private sector in fully developing its potential, as well as in addressing major hurdles related to poverty, education, and health,” Paguio noted.
“We in the private sector need to join hands with government because we are residents of Mindanao, and these concerns severely affect us. Resolving these concerns will truly benefit us all.”
Paguio also underscored the need to change long-standing perceptions about the region. “We need to remove the stigma associated with Mindanao so we can fully and effectively promote it to investors and tourists. There is so much that Mindanao can offer, and its warm, hospitable, and very friendly people easily prove that,” he said.
He further highlighted the importance of supporting the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), saying its progress is vital to the entire island. “We need to provide all the support that BARMM needs because its success greatly adds to the success of Mindanao,” he added.
Ultimately, Paguio framed his new role as part of a broader responsibility to the country. “We have to be part of nation building because this is our country. It deserves all the support we can give because it nurtures us and provides us with all the resources necessary for us to live. That is why we all need to live responsibly,” he said. While acknowledging the magnitude of the challenges ahead, he added, “We may not be able to resolve all these concerns in our lifetime, but we can always say that we helped and gave it our all.”
Paguio’s appointment is expected to further strengthen coordination between government, the private sector, and civil society, and help advance inclusive and sustainable development initiatives across Northern Mindanao.
#OroChamber
#OroChamberComsGroup
###
