Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Thursday got the support of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla on the need to give local government units (LGUs) a greater say in crafting the national budget.
Remulla agreed with Lacson on the importance of involving district representatives in regional development councils (RDCs) so they can better appreciate and support local development priorities in the national budget.
In Filipino: Lacson, Nakuha ang Suporta ng DILG Secretary sa Paglahok ng LGUs sa Pagbuo ng Pambansang Badyet
“The (congressmen) are part of the municipal and provincial development councils, they can participate in the crafting of local development plans. Even in the barangay level they can send their own representatives. Pero hindi napa-practice. Why? Ang mindset ng congressmen, pagdating (ng proposed budget) sa amin, kami ang hari (But this is not practiced because the mindset of some congressmen is that when the proposed budget reaches Congress, they will prevail),” Lacson said at the Senate finance subcommittee hearing on the DILG’s proposed budget for 2027.
“Pagdating sa crafting ng budget ang laki ng disconnect. Ang nangyayari pa, when we make insertions we don’t even coordinate or consult with local government officials and the agencies that will implement the programs, activities and projects (When the budget is being crafted, there is a big disconnect because when we make insertions, we don’t coordinate or consult with local government officials and the agencies that will implement the programs, activities and projects),” he added.
Lacson noted that only 35 percent of programs, activities and projects (PAPs) endorsed by regional development councils are adopted in the budget, though this is a slight improvement from only 20 percent in previous years.
Greater participation by local development councils in crafting the national budget is among Lacson’s advocacies in empowering local government units – and a mandate of the DILG to ensure that local plans are aligned with national priorities.
For his part, Remulla said RDCs have been neglected “for the longest time.”
“If only congressmen can be part of the RDC so they will realize how important it is. As of now, congressmen are not part of RDC but they should be,” he said.
Lacson noted the DILG’s proposed budget for 2027 includes P206 million for support for local governance programs.
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Lacson, Nakuha ang Suporta ng DILG Secretary sa Paglahok ng LGUs sa Pagbuo ng Pambansang Badyet
Nakamit ni Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Huwebes ang suporta ni Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla sa pangangailangang bigyan ng mas malaking papel ang local government units (LGUs) sa pagbuo ng pambansang badyet.
Sumang-ayon si Remulla kay Lacson sa kahalagahan ng paglahok ng mga district representative sa regional development councils (RDCs) upang mas maunawaan at masuportahan nila ang mga lokal na prayoridad sa pambansang badyet.
“The (congressmen) are part of the municipal and provincial development councils, they can participate in the crafting of local development plans. Even in the barangay level they can send their own representatives. Pero hindi napa-practice. Why? Ang mindset ng congressmen, pagdating (ng proposed budget) sa amin, kami ang hari,” ani Lacson sa pagdinig ng Senate finance subcommittee sa panukalang budget ng DILG para 2027.
“Pagdating sa crafting ng budget ang laki ng disconnect. Ang nangyayari pa, when we make insertions we don’t even coordinate or consult with local government officials and the agencies that will implement the programs, activities and projects,” dagdag niya.
Diin ni Lacson, 35 porsiyento lamang ng programs, activities and projects (PAPs) na inirekomenda ng regional development councils ang naisasama sa badyet, bagama’t bahagyang mas mataas ito kumpara sa 20 porsiyento lamang noong mga nakaraang taon.
Ang mas malaking partisipasyon ng local development councils sa pagbuo ng pambansang badyet ay kabilang sa mga adbokasiya ni Lacson para bigyang-lakas ang local government units, gayundin sa mandato ng DILG na tiyaking nakaayon ang mga lokal na plano sa mga pambansang prayoridad.
Para naman kay Remulla, matagal nang napapabayaan ang mga RDC.
“If only congressmen can be part of the RDC so they will realize how important it is. As of now, congressmen are not part of RDC but they should be,” aniya.
Nabanggit din ni Lacson na naglalaan ang panukalang badyet ng DILG para sa 2027 ng P206 milyon para sa support for local governance programs.
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