Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Thursday pushed anew for maximizing the participation of local government units (LGUs) in the crafting of the national budget, with their priority programs and activities getting a bigger share of the budget pie.
Lacson said that while only 35 percent of projects endorsed by regional development councils are accommodated in the National Expenditure Program, he is hoping this can be enhanced to up to 60 percent.
“(Our effort) is to get them involved in the preparation of the NEP, maximize their participation. In fact the President himself issued Executive Order 82 strengthening and enhancing the participation of regional development councils. And the RDCs rely heavily on local development councils,” he said in his interpellation of the proposed 2026 budget for the DILG’s Support to Local Governance Program.
“Sa ngayon we’re still at 35% of the entire NEP sa budget call. Ang pumapasok sa NEP sa mga 35% output ng RDCs. We want to further enhance that makarating man lang ng 50-60% (For now only 35% of the projects endorsed by the regional development councils are accommodated in the NEP. We want to further enhance that to 50-60%),” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson, Itinulak ang Mas Malaking Papel para sa LGU sa Pagbuo ng Budget
He added this is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Executive Order 82 strengthening the participation of regional development councils, which in turn rely heavily on local development councils.
Finance subcommittee chairman Sen. Jose Victor “JV” Ejercito, who sponsored the DILG budget, quoted DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla as saying that while the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)previously did not give importance to regional development councils, the President himself gave the order that the DPWH respect and require regional development council approval especially for flood mitigation projects, after the flood control scandal exploded.
Ejercito also said Sec. Remulla told him that the DILG will make adjustments so that starting next year, regional development councils will be able to endorse projects they need – and that there will be no repeat of local development councils being ignored.
“Kaya nga tinamad ang mga RDCs with this kasi di pinapansin (The regional development councils lost interest because they were ignored). But with all of this floodgate scandal and all, now the RDCs will play an important role to make sure anomalous projects will be prevented, at least the LGUs or province and region will now have a say on the projects that will be implemented in their respective areas,” he said.
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Lacson, Itinulak ang Mas Malaking Papel para sa LGU sa Pagbuo ng Budget
Ipinagtaguyod ni Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Huwebes ang pagpapalakas ng partisipasyon ng mga local government units (LGUs) sa pagbuo ng pambansang budget, upang mas malaking bahagi ng pondo ang mapunta sa kanilang mga prayoridad na programa at proyekto.
Ani Lacson, 35 porsyento lamang ng mga proyekto na inendorso ng regional development councils (RDCs) ang nasasama sa National Expenditure Program (NEP) sa ngayon, at umaasa siya na maaari itong mapataas hanggang 60 porsyento.
“(Our effort) is to get them involved in the preparation of the NEP, maximize their participation. In fact the President himself issued Executive Order 82 strengthening and enhancing the participation of regional development councils. And the RDCs rely heavily on local development councils,” ani Lacson sa kanyang interpellation sa proposed 2026 budget para sa DILG’s Support to Local Governance Program.
“Sa ngayon we’re still at 35% of the entire NEP sa budget call. Ang pumapasok sa NEP sa mga 35% output ng RDCs. We want to further enhance that makarating man lang ng 50-60%,” dagdag pa niya.
Aniya, alinsunod ito sa Executive Order 82 ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na nagpapatibay sa partisipasyon ng mga regional development councils, na umaasa sa mga local development councils.
Sinabi naman ni Finance subcommittee chairman Sen. Jose Victor “JV” Ejercito, na nag-sponsor ng DILG budget, na ayon kay DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla, bagama’t dati hindi binibigyan ng importansya ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) ang mga regional development councils, utos mismo ng Pangulo na igalang at kunin ang pag-apruba ng RDCs lalo na sa mga proyekto sa flood mitigation, matapos sumiklab ang flood control scandal.
Ani Ejercito, sinabi rin ni Sec. Remulla na gagawa ng mga adjustments ang DILG upang simula sa susunod na taon, ang mga RDCs ay makapag-eendorso ng mga proyektong kailangan nila—at hindi na mauulit ang pagkakalimot sa mga local development councils.
“Kaya nga tinamad ang mga RDCs with this kasi di pinapansin. But with all of this floodgate scandal and all, now the RDCs will play an important role to make sure anomalous projects will be prevented, at least the LGUs or province and region will now have a say on the projects that will be implemented in their respective areas,” dagdag niya.
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