The Cagayan Valley Regional Development Council (RDC 2) endorsed the FY 2022 agency budget proposals amounting to PhP152.71 billion during the Joint Meeting of the RDC 2 with the RDC Advisory Committee (AdCom), the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC), the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) and the RDC2 Special Committee on Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program (BP2) held in Ilagan City, Isabela on March 20.

The FY 2022 budget includes proposals from 21 regional line agencies (RLAs) and five state universities and colleges (SUCs) of the region. Of the 21 RLAs, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Department of Education (DepEd) comprise 60% of the total budget at PhP50.3 billion and PhP37.8 billion, respectively. Meanwhile, 66% of the proposed budget for the five SUCs came from the Isabela State University and Cagayan State University at PhP1.8 billion and PhP1.3 billion, respectively.

The RDC’s endorsement also includes the DPWH Infrastructure Projects funded under the FY 2021 “For Later Release” portion of the GAA.

The budget proposals were reviewed by the RDC2 Regional Budget Review Committee (RBRC) prior to its endorsement to the council. The committee ensured the agencies’ proposals are consistent with the Administration’s policies and support regional development thrusts and priorities as reflected in the Regional Development Plan (RDP) and Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP). The committee also took into account the Supreme Court decision on the Mandanas-Garcia case that will affect the full devolution of functions of most regional line agencies.  Also considered are the region’s recovery plans to address the effects of the pandemic and the 2020 flooding.

The joint meeting was presided by the Labor Secretary and RTF-ELCAC Chair, Silvestre H. Bello III and Isabela Governor and RDC2 Chair Rodolfo T. Albano III. It was attended by Nueva Vizcaya Governor Carlos M. Padilla III, Quirino Governor Dakila Carlo E. Cua and Cagayan Governor Manual T. Mamba represented by Cagayan Provincial Administrator Col. Darwin Sacramed. Region 2 congressmen and other government officials and members of the Councils were also present