E. Visayas dev't council reviews proposed 2019 budget

TACLOBAN CITY,  Dec. 9  – The Regional Development Council (RDC) sectoral committees completed on Friday the technical review of the 2019 budget of government agencies and state universities and colleges (SUCs) in Eastern Visayas.

On Dec. 13, the entire RDC will discuss the outcome of the budget review and meet with members of the House of Representatives from the region for a budget dialogue on December 15.

The proposed budget will be submitted to the central offices of government agencies, and to the Commission on Higher Education in case of state-run tertiary schools. A dialogue between the agencies' main offices and the RDC is set early next year.

“The review aims to ensure the readiness of the agencies that in case they will be summoned to Congress, agencies are assured that the legislators will be on our side, since they are part of the budget preparation process. In fact, they will help facilitate the speedy approval and inclusion in the national budget,” said Department of Budget and Management Regional Director Imelda Laceras.

Laceras, the RDC’s Development Administration Committee chairperson, said the current budgeting process is more responsive to the needs of the region.

“This time it would be more advantageous to the region because there is enough time to do the documentation and justification not hurriedly identified programs, projects, and activities,” she added.

Since Sept. 24, government agencies and SUCs have prepared budget proposals, consulted with civil society organizations, submitted forms, conducted technical reviews, and underwent RDC sectoral committee reviews.

The proposed 2019 outlay is in line with the Regional Development Plan ‎2017-2022, Result Matrix, and the Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP), said National Economic and Development Authority Regional Director Bonifacio Uy said.

The Plan and the Matrix spell out the priority development directions and targets while the RDIP outlines the priority development programs, projects, and activities of the region in the next six years.

“Early budget review will ensure that proposed budgets will push for fund allocations for investment that support regional development priorities along human, economic and infrastructure development, including that of the post-disaster rehabilitation and recovery needs,” Uy said.

The budget review and consultation covers 47 departments and other attached agencies and 10 SUCs based in the region’s six provinces.

Eastern Visayas region needs at least PHP651.66 billion for priority activities under the draft ‎‎‎2017-2022 RDIP.

Region 8 is the third poorest among 18 regions in the country. As of 2015, the region’s poverty incidence among families is pegged at 30.7 percent, which means that three out of every 10 families in the region are poor. (SQM/PNA)