The RDC passed resolutions endorsing the budget proposals that included P2.6 billion for the Department of Health (DOH), P861.1 million for the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and P793.19 million for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The other proposals also include P302.53 million for the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), P176.45 million for the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), P381.72 million for the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
The lowest budget proposals were P45.15 million for the Department of Tourism (DOT) and P21.27 million for the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
“The review and endorsement to the national government of the annual budgets of the these agency regional offices and special development authorities is pursuant to Section 4.d of Executive Order 325 of former President Fidel Ramos,” RDC Vice Chairman and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Severino Santos said.
He noted that such review “was mandated to ensure transparency as well as consistency of the utilization of funds to the development goals of Central Luzon in general as stated in the Regional Development Plan and the seven provinces within the region namely Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales in particular,” Santos also noted that in Central Luzon, DepEd will allocate P6.78 billion next year mainly for the construction of classrooms and hiring of teachers for senior high school.
He said that, on the other hand, DOH’s budget “covers the revitalization of more primary health care facilities and upgrading of hospitals under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program in order to decongest end-referral hospitals.”
The RDC in Central Luzon has yet to approve budget proposals from the Department of Public Works and Highways, National Telecommunications Commission, Department of Agriculture, National Irrigation Administration, Department of Science and Technology, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Environmental Management Bureau, Department of Agrarian Reform, and Department of Social Welfare and Development.
