IBA, Zambales — Regional Development Council (RDC) passed on Friday resolutions endorsing the proposed 2020 budget of 24 regional line agencies.
“The Budget Call for FY 2020 provides in the Expenditure Management Framework the continued adoption of the following administrative reforms for greater budget transparency and reliability: a) Annual Cash-based Budgeting System, b) Two-Tier Budgeting Approach (2TBA), c) Program-based budgeting structure through the Program Expenditure Classification Approach, and institutionalization of the Program Convergence Budgeting strategy in the budget process to link, harmonize and synchronize the timing of critical program interventions,” National Economic and Development Authority Regional Director and RDC Vice Chairperson Leon M. Dacanay Jr. said.
2TBA is an approach that separates evaluation of agency proposals for ongoing programs and projects (Tier 1) and new spending proposals and expansion of ongoing programs and projects (Tier 2).
“The focus of RDC’s review is on agency Tier 2 proposals in terms of consistency with and responsiveness to the desired development outcomes and strategies as enunciated in the Regional Development Plan 2017-2022,” Dacanay added.
Approved budgets include Department of the Interior and Local Government-Php288.37 million, Philippine National Police- Php1.659 billion, Bureau of Fire Protection- Php169.696 million, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-Php864.73 million, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources- Php486.55 million, Department of Agriculture (DA) -Php15.113 billion, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)- Php1.281 billion, Department of Science and Technology (DOST)- Php334.49 million, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)- Php250.78 million, Environmental Management Bureau- Php246.760 million, Mines and Geosciences Bureau- Php82.874 million, and Department of Agrarian Reform- Php601.91 million.
Also, Department of Tourism (DOT) – Php32.51 million, National Irrigation Administration Region 3- Php5.491 billion, National Irrigation Administration Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems- Php2.583 billion, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)- Php87.284 billion, Land Transportation Office- Php373.49 million, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board- Php73.6 million, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-Php363.41 million, Department of Labor and Employment-Php509.764 million, Department of Health- Php10.08 billion, Commission on Higher Education- Php58.9 million, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – Php8.95 billion, and Department of Education (DepEd)- Php72.1 billion.
DA seeks to increase yield of rice to 5.25 MT/Ha. in 2020 (from 4.91 MT/Ha. in 2018) and corn to 5.81 MT/Ha. (from 5.70 MT/Ha. in 2018). DA also seeks to increase the parturition rate of artificially inseminated animals from 51 percent in 2018 to 54 percent in 2020.
DENR, on the other hand, seeks to sustain management of natural resources through maintenance and protection of 15,565.46 hectares under the Enhanced National Greening Program.
DOST, for its part, will prioritize of 40 local Grant-In-Aid projects and implementation of 74 Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program projects.
Moreover, DTI seeks to assist 118 exporters and 86 investors. It will also establish 27 new Negosyo Centers and 29 Shared Service Facilities. DTI eyes to conduct as well 11 trade fairs and 7 Kapatid Mentor Me activities.
DOT seeks to improve regional share in national tourist arrival from 4,618,000 in 2018 to 5,092,000 in 2020. It also seeks to increase number of accredited establishments from 206 in 2018 to 297 in 2020.
Meanwhile, DPWH budget include funding of convergence programs with DOT, DTI and Department of National Defense that seeks to ensure safe and reliable national road system and protect lives and properties against major floods.
DSWD commits to intensify and strengthen convergence mechanism for social protection programs and improve data management system for vulnerable sectors which will contribute in sustaining poverty incidence reduction and achieving the end-of-plan target of 7.9% poverty incidence among the region’s population.
And lastly, DepEd targets a functional literacy rate of 92.5% and net enrollment of 98.67% for elementary and 80.08% for secondary.