The Cordillera House Representatives affirmed their support to the proposed FY 2025 budgets of 26 regional agencies, six state universities and colleges (SUCs), including the proposed budget of the Metro Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay Development Authority (MBLISTTDA) during the Regional Development Council Advisory Committee (RDC-CAR AdCom) meeting on May 21, 2024 at the House of Representatives in Quezon City. The MBLISTTDA is a special development and administrative area which was created in 2022 through Republic Act 11932.
The proposed total budget amounts to Php123,857.97 million which is 87 percent higher than the approved 2024 CAR budget amounting to Php66,219.74.
In February this year, the RDC through the Regional Development Budget Coordinating Committee (RDBCC) reviewed the proposed budgets and endorsed these to the respective Agency Central Offices in March.
Baguio City Rep. Marquez O. Go,Chair of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, said that he will be meeting with the SUCs to discuss their proposed budgets to ensure that these will be included in the 2025 National Expenditure Program.
Apayao Rep. Leah Bulut-Begtang assured the body of her support for the allocation of funds to the region. She congratulated the Council for the region’s performance citing the 6.9 percent economic growth of the Cordillera in 2023. She added that the region is on the right track through its collaborative and holistic development approach.
Abra Rep. Menchie B.Bernos also expressed her support to the proposed budgets including the passage of the autonomy bill. She shared that autonomy awareness campaigns are being conducted in Abra.
Kalinga Rep. Allen Jesse C.Mangaoang and Mountain Province Rep. Maximo Y. Dalog, Jr. who also expressed support requested for the detailed budget proposals for further study. Meanwhile, Ifugao Rep. Solomon R. Chungalao recommended the use of fruit-bearing trees in the reforestation programs of the DENR when the proposed budget share of the Environment Sector was discussed.
Presidential Assistant for Northen LuzonAna Carmela V. Remigio assured the body of her assistance in response to the request of the Committee for support on the proposed budgets.
RDC Chair and Gov. Elias C. Bulut, Jr. said that the role of the House solons is very critical in achieving the approval of the proposed budgets. He appealed for their intervention in pushing for the inclusion of the regional budget proposals to the respective central agency budgets, and endorsing these during the Congressional budget hearings.
Governor Bulut steered the discussions as the Chair of the AdCom. Private Sector Representative (PSR) Edna C. Tabanda serves as the Co-Chair, while NEDA Regional Dir. Susan A. Sumbeling serves as the Vice-Chair. The Committee is composed of the Cordillera House Representatives, Chairpersons of the sectoral committees, the oversight committees and the PSRs.**Marissa M. Cabato
