The Regional Development Council II (RDC2) – Regional Budget Review Committee (RBRC) convened from 11-14 March 2024 at NEDA 2’s Pamegafanan Hall in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan to review the fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget proposals of 39 agencies. These include regional line agencies, state universities and colleges, and government-owned and controlled corporations.

Leading this year’s budget review is the newly installed director of the Department of Budget and Management and RBRC Chair, RD Cherry W. Bravo. She highlighted the importance of the RBRC’s role in ensuring optimal allocation of government’s limited resources to achieve the goals outlined in our Cagayan Valley Regional Development Plan (CV RDP) 2023-2028. These goals are reflected into specific priorities within the programming documents and basis for the budgeting exercise. She expressed hope that everyone’s combined efforts will contribute to achieving the Ambisyon 2040 of a matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay para sa lahat.

The deliberations focused on the assessment of the agencies’ proposed programs, projects, and activities (PPAs) on the following: a) absorptive capacity; b) implementation readiness; c) alignment of the PPAs to the priorities and policy directions in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 and the CV RDP 2023-2028; d) enrolment of PPAs in the Philippine and Regional Development Investment Programs and Three-Year Rolling Infrastructure Program 2025-2027; e) inclusion of agency commitments in compliance with the full devolution of certain functions from the executive branch to the local government units; and f) conformity to other related laws.

The comments and recommendations from the said review and consultation will be integrated into the revised submissions of the regional agencies. These will be endorsed to the RDC2 for its onward endorsement to DBM and to the respective agency central offices for support.
The conducted budget review and consultation is in compliance with Executive Order No. 325, which vests RDC2 the authority to review and endorse agency budgets to the national government.

The four-day activity was also participated in by the members of the panel from BLGF, DICT, DOST, DA, RDC2’s sectoral committee chairs, RDC2’s private sector representatives, and planning officers of the five provinces. This is to ensure that the consultation process follows whole of nation and whole of government approach.

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