The Regional Development Council II (RDC2) – Regional Budget Review Committee (RBRC) completed its deliberation of 39 agency budget proposals from the regional line agencies, state universities and colleges, and government-owned or controlled corporations for FY 2024.

The deliberation activity was the third phase of the regional consultation after the successful conduct of the budget forum with national government agencies, followed by the budget dialogue between the key implementing agencies and the region’s congressional representatives last February 2023.

The RBRC strengthened the bottom-up budgeting process by ensuring that stakeholder consultations were conducted in the preparation of agency budgets and with the participation of the private sector representatives, resource persons, and members of Congress from the region during the budget deliberation apart from the RBRC officials.

Moreover, the activity assessed the agency’s compliance with the following criteria: a) alignment of the proposed programs, activities, and projects (PAPs) to the priorities and policy directions in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 and the Cagayan Valley Regional Development Plan 2023-2028; b) implementation readiness; c) inclusion of agency commitments in compliance with the full devolution of certain functions from the executive branch to the local government units; d) enrolment of PAPs in the Philippine and Regional Development Investment Program and Three-Year Rolling Infrastructure Program; e) strengthens convergence programs; and f) conformity to other related laws.

This year’s regional budget deliberation was held from 13-16 March 2023 at the National Economic and Development Authority Regional Office 2 in Tuguegarao City. It was conducted in compliance with Section 4 (paragraph D) of Executive Order No. 325, which mandates the RDC to review and endorse to the national government the annual budgets of agency regional offices, state universities and colleges, and special development authorities.

The RBRC will still monitor the revised 2024 proposed budget of agencies in compliance with the recommendations and agreements reached during the budget deliberation, prior to its final endorsement and approval of the RDC2 Council proper.#NEDA2-PDIPBD