OVER P17 BILLION OF PUBLIC INVESTMENTS PROPOSED FOR DAVAO REGION
The Regional Development Council (RDC) XI endorsed over P17 billion worth of public investments to the National Government during its review of the FY 2010 budget proposals of at least 19 Agency Regional Offices and 5 State Universities and Colleges on May 19-20, 2009. This figure comprises priority regional programs and projects that are proposed for funding by the National Government, for implementation in 2010. RDC XI Chair Vicente T. Lao said that the regional budget review is vital in ensuring that programs and projects included in the agency/SUC budget proposals respond to the requirements of the region and thus contribute to the achievement of Davao Region’s development targets.
Of the P17 billion worth of proposed public investments, more than 5 billion pesos were for the social sector, to include 800 million pesos for SUCs, an estimated 1 billion pesos for the economic sector, about 160 million pesos for development administration, and over 11 billion pesos for the infrastructure sector. Public investments proposed for funding by the National Government include improvement of the Kapalong-Talaingod-Valencia Roads and Bridges (P809M) and the Malalag-Malita-Jose Abad Santos-Glan Road (P880M), the construction of a new passenger terminal building at berth 1 in Sasa Davao City (P100M), the construction of the Mindanao Cancer Center in Tagum City (P480M), the construction and rehabilitation of school buildings/classrooms (P1.1B), the rehabilitation of Sumlog Watershed (P10M) and the delineation survey of Mt. Hamigitan Wildlife Sanctuary in Davao Oriental (P10M), the implementation of the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) program (P300M), and the conduct of a political boundary survey covering the municipalities of Montevista, Compostela Valley and Lupon and San Isidro, Davao Oriental.
The regional budget review process undertaken by the RDC XI is part of the annual budget preparation process of the National Government. According to RDC XI Vice-Chair and NEDA XI Regional Director Maria Lourdes D. Lim, Executive Order no. 325, series of 1996, mandates the RDCs to review and endorse to the national government the annual budgets of agency regional offices, state colleges and universities, and special development authorities. Director Lim added that this regional budget review is also provided for under National Budget Memorandum 103 or the National Budget Call for 2010 issued by DBM on May 8. Director Lim said that RDC XI issued its own budget review guidelines to guide the region’s agencies and SUCs in the preparation of their budget proposals. Particularly, these shall consider, among others, priority programs and projects responsive to regional needs, identification as to the location of programs and projects by congressional district, compliance to gender and development budgeting as provided for in the NCRFW, NEDA, and DBM Joint Circular No. 2004-1, and inclusion of interventions responsive to the country’s Economic Resiliency Plan such as the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) that would respond to concerns related to the global financial crisis.
The 2-day meeting was attended by representatives of the region’s provinces and cities, member-agency regional offices, and private sector representatives. Particularly, Governor Corazon Malanyaon of Davao Oriental, Administrator Rufo L. Peligro of Davao del Norte, and the Regional Directors of DA, DepEd, DOLE, CHED, DOST, DSWD, DTI, DENR were present during the meeting. DBM XI Regional Director Achilles Gerard D. Bravo also attended the meeting and presented the recently released National Budget Call for 2010 for the Council’s guidance.
Sectoral Committees
- Development Administration Committee
- Economic Development Committee
- Infrastructure Development Committee
- Social Development Committee
- Macroeconomy and Finance Committee
Special Committees
External Links
