An executive order strengthening the Regional Development Councils can be a big help in making the yearly budget more responsive to the needs and priorities of local government units, former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Monday.
Lacson said Executive Order 82, which aims to accelerate socio-economic development in all regions by adding agencies as new members, aligns with his advocacy for the equitable distribution of funds in the national budget, especially to the local government units (LGUs).
“I am glad President Marcos signed EO 82, strengthening the RDC and adding its membership to 18 agencies,” he said in Filipino, in an interview on DZBB’s “Ikaw Na Ba? The Senatorial Interviews.”
“Who else would know better the needs and priorities of constituents but the local government units?” he added.
Related: Ping Lacson: EO na Nagpapalakas sa Regional Development Councils, Gagawing Mas Responsive ang Budget
Lacson had advocated his Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment (BRAVE), which seeks to ensure the national budget allots enough funds to LGUs, which are in the best position to know the needs and priorities of their constituents.
He noted the yearly budget showed a huge disconnect because only 20 percent of the RDC’s output – development plans from the barangay, municipal, city and provincial levels – is consolidated in the House version of the budget.
With the EO, he said district representatives in Congress are members of the municipal, city, and provincial development councils, and may have a say in crafting development programs at the local level.
From 2016 to 2023, he said unused appropriations averaged about P350 billion – including appropriations for insertions made without the knowledge of the implementing agencies. This is a waste since the amount could have gone to much-needed development programs, he said.
The unused funds amounted to as high as P596 billion in 2016, and more than P400 billion in 2023, he noted.
Lacson recalled one case in a barangay where residents could not reach a neighboring barangay without going around one entire town, just because there was no bridge to link their villages. Because of this, the fish the residents hoped to sell would be spoiled before reaching the market.
In previous years, Lacson had questioned extension projects for nonexistent roads and bridges.
“That is the disconnect. The national government may not know the specific needs of the local government. And the efforts of nongovernment organizations and civil society groups and LGUs are wasted once insertions are made in the budget bill,” he said.
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Ping Lacson: EO na Nagpapalakas sa Regional Development Councils, Gagawing Mas Responsive ang Budget
Umaasa si dating Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson na mas matutugunan ngayon ng pambansang budget ang pangangailangan ng local government units dahil sa Executive Order na nagpapalakas sa mga Regional Development Councils.
Ani Lacson, naka-align ang Executive Order 82 – na layon ay pabilisin ang socio-economic development sa lahat ng rehiyon sa pamamagitan ng pagdagdag ng ahensya – ay sang-ayon sa adbokasiya niya para sa tamang distribusyon ng pondo sa pambansang budget, lalo na sa mga local government units (LGUs).
“Natutuwa ako si Pangulong Marcos, nagpirma ng Executive Order 82. Ini-strengthen niya ang RDC at dinagdagan ng membership, 18 ahensya ang dinagdag para ma-strengthen,” aniya sa “Ikaw Na Ba? The Senatorial Interviews” ng DZBB.
“Sino ang mas nakakaalam ng needs and priorities ng mga kanayunan kundi ang mga taga-roon?” dagdag niya.
Isinusulong ni Lacson ang Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment (BRAVE), na tinitiyak na may sapat na pondo ang pambansang budget para sa mga LGU, na nakakaalam ng pangangailangan ng kanilang constituents.
Ani Lacson, malaki ang disconnect sa budget dahil 20 porsyento lang ng output ng RDC – ang mga development plans sa lebel ng barangay, municipal, city at provincial – ang nakakasama sa bersyon ng Kamara.
Dahil sa EO, umaasa si Lacson na ang mga district representative sa Kongreso bilang myembro ng municipal, city, at provincial development councils, ay maaaring magbigay ng input sa paglikha ng development programs sa lokal na level.
Ani Lacson, mula 2016 hanggang 2023, umaabot ng P350 bilyon ang unused appropriations, kabilang ang appropriations para sa insertions na walang kinalaman ang mga implementing agencies. Dito nasasayang ang pondo na pwede namang mapunta sa mga local development programs, aniya.
Dagdag ni Lacson, umaabot pa nga ang unused funds sa P596 bilyon noong 2016, at higit P400 bilyon noong 2023.
Naalala ni Lacson ang sitwasyon ng isang barangay kung saan kailangang dumaan ang residente sa isang fishing village para lang makarating sa katabing barangay, dahil walang tulay dito. Dahil dito, bilasa na ang isdang ibebenta nila sana.
Sa kabilang dako, nakwestyon din ni Lacson ang mga extension project para sa nonexistent na daan o tulay.
“Yan ang disconnect, hindi alam ng national ang kailangan sa local. Pagkatapos ang pagkahirapan ng mga NGOs, CSOs, LDCs, pinaguusapan nila, pagdating sa NEP at pagdating sa Congress nababalewala lahat. 20% nga lang, so sayang,” aniya.
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