DILG to prioritize Yolanda areas for anti-poverty projects

MANILA, Philippines – Areas hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) will be prioritized in the implementation of poverty-reduction projects identified by the local communities themselves. 

The projects will be funded through the Grassroots Participatory Budget Process (GBPB), Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II said on Friday, April 11.

Bottoms up budgeting

Previously known as bottom-up budgeting, the GPBP is an initiative of the Aquino government aimed at empowering local communities to identify priority areas for local govenrment spending. 

According to the government, the program ensures that the needs of the local community on poverty reduction are addressed in the annual preparation and legislation of the national budget.

GPBP also involves the participation of CSOs and people’s organizations in the annual budget planning of the local government units (LGUs).

“Dito makikita ang sigasig ng ating mga halal na opisyal para pangunahan ang pagbangon ng kanilang mga lugar. Gamitin natin ang budget para sa ating mamamayan,” Roxas said. (Through this, we’ll prove the diligence of elected officals in leading the recovery and rehabilitation in their area. Let us use the budget for the people)

Roxas added that LGUs from areas ravaged by typhoon Yolanda should align the projects under GPBP in their rehabilitation and recovery efforts.  He also urged LGUs to take advantage of the P15 million budget allocated for each city and municipality.

The budget for the projects under GPBP will be released only when LGUs complete the requirements such as attaining the Seal of Good Housekeeping and having Public Financial Managemnt Improvement Plan. 

Budget allocation

In his visit to Capiz, the DILG chief announced that the government has allotted a total of P1.88 billion for Region VI (Western Visayas) and another P1.82 billion for Regon VIII (Eastern Visayas).

The allocation for provinces in Western and Eastern Visayas are as follows:

• Aklan – P254.4 million
• Antique – P255 million
• Capiz – P240 million
• Guimaras – P70 million
• Iloilo – P426 million
• Negros Occidental – P637.50 million
• Biliran – P75 million
• Leyte – P632.30 million
• Eastern Samar – P272 million
• Northern Samar – P331 million
• Southern Leyte – P153 million
• Western Samar – P369.44 million

The bulk of the P20-billion budget allocated for programs identified through GPBP was sourced from Department of Agriculture (P9.286 billion), DSWD (P2.638 billion), DILG (P2.476 billion), DepEd (P1.449 billion),  and the DOH (P1.355 billion).

Participatory budgeting

Over the first 3 years of its implementation, funding for GPBP projects increased from P8 billion, P20 billion, and P26 billion in 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively.

For the 2013 and 2014 budget, the number of cities and municipalities covered by GPBP also increased from 595 to 1226.

The GPBP encountered birthing problems in the beginning. This included projects that were either unimplemented or unobligated within the ideal period of time. – with a report from Raisa Serafica/Rappler.com