Over PHP202 billion worth of budget proposals of 45 government entities broken down into 35 agency regional offices (AROs), 5 state universities and colleges (SUCs), and 5 government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) were endorsed by the Regional Development Council (RDC) XI, through its expanded Executive Committee (ExCom), during the FY 2020 RDC XI Budget Review and Consultation on April 3 – 5, 2019 in Davao City.

RDC XI Co-Chairperson Vicente T. Lao (right) presides over the FY 2020 RDC XI Budget Review and Consultation. With him are RDC XI Vice-Chair Maria Lourdes D. Lim and Mr. Alexander Cabalda of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) XI

PHP118 million or 58 percent of the total budget proposal shall be allocated for regular programs, activities and projects (PAPs) of agencies under Tier 1 while approximately 42 percent or PHP84.1 billion shall be earmarked for new and expanded PAPs under Tier 2.

Topping the list of the highest budget proposals among government agencies is the  Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) XI with PHP91.4 billion, comprising  45 percent of the total budget proposal for Davao Region.  The DPWH XI budget proposal shall be earmarked for the construction or rehabilitation of national roads and bridges, filling missing gaps, bypasses and diversion roads, flyovers, and flood control. The DPWH XI budget proposal shall also cover infrastructure support for the Region’s tourism destinations, trade and industry, seaport and national security under the Convergence and Special Support Program (CSSP).

Following DPWH XI on the list is the Department of Education (DepEd) XI with PHP46.3 billion; the National Housing Authority (NHA) XI with PHP11.3 billion; Philippine National Police (PNP) XI with PHP9.9 billion; and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) XI with PHP9 billion. Collectively, the budget proposals of these top 5 agencies comprise 83 percent of the total budget proposal for Davao Region.

New and expanded projects under Tier 2 were ranked from highest to lowest according to the set of criteria set by the RDC XI, which includes implementation readiness, sector relevance, scale of impact or project, and absorptive capacity of agencies. Three (3) major capital projects (MCPs) costing more than 2.5 billion pesos were endorsed for funding, 2 of which were proposed by the DepEd XI particularly the creation of new personnel positions amounting to PHP3.1 billion and new building construction amounting to PHP13.4 billion. Also, in the list of priority MCPs is the Construction, Upgrading, Completion and Equipping of Various LGU Hospitals/Special Service Facilities of DOH XI with a total amount of over PHP3 billion.

Other PAPs below PHP2.5 billion that were included in the RDC XI’s top priority list of PAPs in Tier 2 were the following:

  1. Operation and Maintenance of Integrated Laboratory – DA XI
  2. Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) Development Program – DA XI
  3. Special Areas for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program – DA XI
  4. Mati Agri-Industrial Complex – DA XI
  5. Repair and Rehabilitation of Classrooms – DepEd XI
  6. Government Assistance and Subsidy (Educational Service and Contracting and Senior High School Voucher) – DepEd XI
  7. Upgrading/Completion/Construction of DOH Facilities/Re-fleeting of Vehicles – DOH XI

The 3-day RDC XI Budget Review and Consultation is in line with the RDC’s mandate under Executive order No. 325 to review the budget proposals of agencies. This activity is also in in response to the continuing budget reforms espoused under National Budget Memorandum (NBM) 131 or the FY 2020 Budget Call which requires agencies to undertake consultations with the Local Government Units (LGUs) within the ambit of the RDCs to ensure that the national priorities are responsive to regional and local needs in a manner that LGU development capacities are strengthened in the process.

The expanded RDC XI Executive Committee (ExCom) served as the reviewing panel for the Budget Review and Consultation. The RDC XI ExCom is composed of representatives from the RDC XI Sectoral Committees, Local Government Units (LGUs) and the private sector.