The Regional Development Council (RDC-CAR), through the Regional Development Budget Coordinating Committee (RDBCC), reviewed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget proposals of regional line agencies (RLA) and state universities and colleges (SUC) on February 27 to March 1, 2024, in Baguio City. Also reviewed was the budget proposal of the Baguio City-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay Development Authority (BLISTTDA) created through Republic Act (RA) 11932, series of 2022.
In her opening message, Dir. Irene B. Gahid, Chairperson of the RDBCC-CAR and Regional Director of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM-CAR), reiterated the need to optimize the use of limited fiscal resources to foster inclusive socio-economic development transformation.
The budget consultations provided a platform to ensure alignment of agency and SUC programs and projects with national, regional, and local development plans and priorities. It is envisioned that through the advocacy of the RDC, agency central offices will consider it in their final budgets the proposed regional PAPs.
During the budget consultation, RLAs and SUCs presented their development priorities and their proposed new or expanded PAPs for FY 2025. The priority PAPs were evaluated by the budget review panel that included the RDC Sectoral Committee chairpersons, Private Sector Representatives (PSRs), representatives of local government units (LGU), and Congressional representatives. Governor James Edduba of Kalinga, Governor Jerry Dalipog of Ifugao, and Mayor Benjamin Magalong of Baguio City articulated the concern and needs of the provinces in the allocation and implementation of national government projects.
Members of the budget review panel deliberated on the budget proposals to ensure their alignment with the Administration’s socioeconomic development agenda and priorities, Philippine and Regional Development Plans (P/RDP) 2023-2028, and Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP). The recommendations of the panel include the integration of relevant recommendations of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), improving on Gender and Development (GAD)-related PAPs, and prioritization of new or expanded PAPs that are considered under the Tier 2 budget proposals.
The conduct of the regional budget consultation and review is an annual activity of the RDC-CAR through the RDBCC following Executive Order 325, series of 1996, and prescribed under DBM National Budget Memorandum No. 149 or the National Budget Call for FY 2025. The RDBCC is chaired by DBM and co-chaired by the NEDA.
The recommendations of the budget review panel will be integrated into the revised FY 2025 budget proposals of RLAs, SUCs, and BLISTTDA, for the approval of the RDC-CAR during its First Quarter Meeting on March 15, 2024. By Legriv Vilee I. Marquez
