ILOILO CITY, Aug. 23 (PIA) -- Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on Tuesday convened the 42nd meeting of the Cabinet Assistance System (CAS) here in Iloilo to discuss issues and concerns that could be elevated during the cabinet meeting with the President.

The meeting, attended by the undersecretaries and assistant secretaries, was held at the Heroes Lounge of the Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo.

Nograles said the CAS is like a clearing house of agenda that will be set up for discussion to the Cabinet that may need the President's decision.

But more than this, Nograles said they have started this practice of holding the CAS meeting in regions every other month to hear the issues and concerns from the regions.

CAS meetings were already held in Regions 7 (Central Visayas) and Region 8 ( Eastern Visayas).

Also, Nograles said they have a directive from President Rodrigo Duterte to ensure that development will be brought down to the provinces.

They were directed to make a game plan on how to distribute economic growth, development and activity, and jobs generation down to the regions.

According to Nograles this is why they are conducting the meeting to discuss the game plan for instance, for Region 6, as well as identifying the problems and concerns in the region to make it conducive for more investments and for more job opportunities in the region.

"Kasi gusto ng Pangulo lahat ng regions in the next three years magkaroon ng economic growth, development and job generation, para hindi na lahat ng tao magsiksikan sa Metro Manila. Kung makatrabaho ka naman kung saang region ka ipinanganak, dito na lang, para mas mapabilis pa natin 'yong development ng bansang Pilipinas pag lahat ng regions natin are doing well," said Nograles.

He noted that based on the latest economic numbers, all regions across the country have experienced economic growth in terms of the economic numbers.

The regional councils for development and peace and order in Western Visayas were invited to report during the meeting. (JBG/laf/PIA6-Iloilo)