Officials from the national and local government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) share a light moment before the first organizational meeting of the Project Steering Committee on the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-ADB Technical Assistance (TA) on Strengthening Provincial/Local Planning and Expenditure Management held recently at the NEDA Board Room in Pasig City. The TA aims to enhance capabilities of local government units (LGUs) in effecting local development through improved planning and expenditure management. Photo shows (from left): Regional Development Council (RDC)-5 chairperson, Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. (representing Luzon); RDC-7 chairperson, Negros Oriental Governor George P. Arnaiz (representing Visayas); Shamshad Akhtar, Director General of the South East Asia Department, ADB; Mr. Thomas Crouch, Director of the Philippine Country Office, South East Asia Department, ADB; and NEDA Deputy Director-General Augusto B. Santos.