THE Regional Development Council (RDC) has endorsed a total of P47.43-billion budget for fiscal year 2014, for government agencies and instrumentalities in the Zamboanga Peninsula Region including Isabela City in Basilan province.
This amount is 140 percent higher than the P19.83-billion budget for 2013 in the General Appropriations Act (GAA).
The P47.43-billion for 2014 represents the total proposed budget submitted by the regional offices of the different government agencies and state universities and colleges in the region.
National Economic Development Authority (Neda) regional director Teresita Socorro C. Ramos said the 2014 budget was discussed and endorsed during the RDC meeting held recently at Dipolog City.
She said that the “RDC is the highest policy-making in the region. We are not here just to present our budget but we are here to contribute to the regional development.”
Ramos also said that the RDC meeting tackled sectoral issues and concerns affecting the regional growth and development leading to the passage of resolutions involving the “Family Health Improved” project of the Department of Health.
Also discussed was the “Public-Private Partnership School Infrastructure Project Phase II of the Department of Education.
The RDC also discussed the request for assistance and funding from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the dredging of Palomoc River and Titay Valley flood control project all in Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay.
In the same gathering, a memorandum of agreement between Neda-9 and DPWH-9 has been signed for the construction of Neda’s office building worth P50-million in Pagadian City. The DPWH has to assist in the detailed engineering and technical supervision of the project.
The RDC is tasked with coordinating the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of short and long-term regional development plans and investment programs, regional physical framework plan and special development plans, including the formulation of policy recommendations.
It also integrates approved development plans of provinces and cities, line agencies, state universities and colleges, government owned and controlled corporations and special development authorities in the region into the regional development plan. PNA