COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region XII, with support from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), conducted a 5-day โOrientation on Investment Programming, Budgeting and Project Evaluation Developmentโ to capacitate the Regional Land Use Committee Technical Working Group (RLUC TWG) held on June 6-10, 2022 at the Avior Hotel in General Santos City.
Said activity aims to enhance the knowledge of the RLUC TWG on investment programming and revenue generation that will further allow them to familiarize tools and techniques on budgeting, public expenditure, and project evaluation development.
In her message, Melanie Indar, Director of BPDAโs Planning and Policies Bureau, emphasized the importance of the said activity in performing the duties and functions of the BPDA as the technical secretariat of RLUC BARMM which includes rendering of technical assistance to local government units (LGUs) in the formulation of their mandated plans and other planning-related activities.
โAn orientation on the guidelines of Provincial/Local Planning and Expenditure Management (PLPEM) is muchly needed by the BPDA and RLUC Technical Working Group to ensure provision of an effective and efficient technical assistance to LGUs of BARMM on the formulation of their plan and other activities,โ she said.
Furthermore, lectures and workshops were facilitated by the Project Development, Investment Programming and Budget Division (PDIPBD) of NEDA XII being led by Chief Economic Development Specialist (EDS) Sandra J. Alido, together with the rest of her team that includes Senior EDS Medina G. Herezo, Senior EDS Aurel P. Betque, Senior EDS Judd Nichol L. Leonar, and EDS II Charmaine Lou M. Vilches.
Accordingly, Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP) is the accompanying and operational document of the Regional Development Plan which contains the rolling list of programs and projects in order to realize the goals, objectives, strategies and targets enunciated in the medium-term plan.
In addition, RDIP will serve as guide in the programming and budgeting of regional priority programs, activities and projects (PAPs) and the monitoring and evaluation of the annual progress of the implementation of the regional development plan.
Indar further expressed her gratitude to the officials and employees of NEDA XII for their continuous provision of technical support to BARMM.
โThis activity would not only benefit the RLUC but this will also help in the ongoing formulation of the 2nd Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP) and its accompanying Bangsamoro Development Investment Program (BDIP) 2023 โ 2028,โ she stressed.
Moreover, Assistant Regional Director Carmel Matabang of NEDA XII shared an inspirational message to the participants saying โI am optimistic that the concerned BPDA technical staff as RLUC BARMM secretariat will be more competent, prepared, and confident to shepherd the preparation of BARMM RDIP, facilitate review of budget proposals of BARMM NGAs and conduct a basic project evaluation development as need arisesโ.
Meanwhile, via Zoom video teleconference, JICA Advisor Yukiko Sano underscored that JICA is elated in strengthening their partnership with BPDA towards the socio-economic development of the Bangsamoro region. (BPDA-BARMM)