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Western Visayas RDC’s priority programs and projects (PAPs) were favorably considered by the Agency Central Offices (ACOs) during the Regional-National Investment Programming (RNIP) Dialogue held at the Seda Manila Bay Hotel on August 17-18, 2023.

The two day-activity was participated by the RDC Chairpersons/Co-Chairpersons, NEDA, and ACO representatives from DA, DepEd, DENR, DHSUD, DICT, DILG, DOE, DOH, DOST, DOTr, DPWH, and DSWD. Region VI participants were RDC VI Co-Chair Atty. Jobert Peñaflorida, NEDA VI Regional Director Arecio Casing, Jr., PDIPBD Chief Alexander Aquio, and PMED Chief Marlon Jinon.

In his keynote address (read by NEDA Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo Abad Santos), NEDA Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, expressed awareness of the seeming disconnect between the PIP, which contains the priority programs, activities, and projects (PAPs) by national government agencies, and the Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP), which captures the priority PAPs of the regions.

Secretary Balisacan also underscored in his message that, “With today’s dialogue, we aim to strengthen the linkage between the PIP and the RDIP through our Agency Central Offices and Regional Development Councils (RDC) by harmonizing sectoral priorities with regional priorities and with the regional and national investment programming timeline. Increasing the region’s share in the national budget in support of the priorities and strategies outlined in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028 remains among our targets and end-goals for this dialogue today.”

The Top 30 PAPs of Western Visayas for 2023-2028 under the RNIP Dialogue process were endorsed by the RDC VI last June 28 thru Resolution No. 74.  Of these, the following PAPs were favorably considered by the ACOs during the dialogue proper:

  • DA VI’s Farm-to-Market Road Development Program, Small Scale Irrigation Projects, Agricultural Machinery, Equipment, Facilities Projects, and Value Chain Enhancement of High-Value Crops through Smart Agriculture;
  • DENR VI’s Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Rehabilitation Program;
  • DepEd VI’s Basic Education Facilities Program;
  • DILG VI’s Civil Society Organizations/ People’s Participation Partnership Program and Improvement LGU Competitiveness and Ease of Doing Business Program, and Construction of 16 Municipal and 6 City Fire Stations;
  • DOH VI’s Expansion/Upgrading of Ciriaco S. Tirol Hospital in Malay, Aklan, Completion and Equipping of Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital in Capiz, and Equipping of Building D Phase II (Heart-Lung Center) of Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City, and Construction of Regional Blood Center in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo;
  • DOST VI’s Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology Programs, S&T Consultancy Program, and Grants-in Aid Program;
  • DOTr’s proposed Panay Railway System, Iloilo-Santa Barbara Bus Rapid Transit, Maritime/Port Development Projects (Punta Buri Port and Tagubanhan Port in Ajuy, Banban Port in Batad, and Dapdap Port in Tangalan), and Development of Antique Airport;
  • DPWH VI’s proposed Panay-Guimaras-Negros Inter-Island Link Bridge, Iloilo-Capiz-Aklan Expressway, Metro Iloilo Circumferential Roads, Panay-East West Lateral Road, and Bacolod Negros Occidental Economic Highway (BANOCEH); and
  • DSWD VI’s Disaster Response and Management Program, Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations, and Sustainable Livelihood Program.

This first-ever RNIP dialogue was organized by the NEDA Public Investment Staff in coordination with the Regional Development Staff. (AOAquio, MTJinon/NEDA 6)