by Dominic I. Sanchez
ZAMBOANGA CITY, March 28 (PIA) - - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will be initially implementing a new strategy in poverty reduction – the bottom-up planning and budgeting process – in fifty municipalities in Region IX, including Zamboanga City and Isabela City, revealed Regional Director Teodulo Romo, Jr.
Speaking during a meeting with civil society organizations held recently, Director Romo shared his optimism that the poor “will finally have the opportunity to air their most urgent needs” so that these concerns will be addressed appropriately and efficiently.
For the last forty years, the director said, the national government has had a lack of focused targeting for its programs and services. In spite of implementing numerous programs, only a handful of the poor are able to benefit from such programs, primarily because there have been limited or even no consultations with the sectors at all. The poor have been left behind struggling as hard as ever.
Speaking during a meeting with civil society organizations held recently, Director Romo shared his optimism that the poor “will finally have the opportunity to air their most urgent needs” so that these concerns will be addressed appropriately and efficiently.
For the last forty years, the director said, the national government has had a lack of focused targeting for its programs and services. In spite of implementing numerous programs, only a handful of the poor are able to benefit from such programs, primarily because there have been limited or even no consultations with the sectors at all. The poor have been left behind struggling as hard as ever.
But this time, with the active engagement of the different sectors in the LGU planning process, the tables will be turned. Local government officials will work hand in hand with the sector representatives – the poor and the marginalized. The residents will be consulted in drafting development plans.
“We have made much progress using the bottom-up approach with the Kalahi-CIDSS* community-driven project,” shared Director Romo, “and it is about time to let this effective poverty-reduction mechanism loose in more areas needing it, including the urban cities”.
Sector representatives have shared that they were never consulted, or even invited during the budget preparation process especially from their local government units. Director Romo assured that this will certainly not be the case now.
“The sector representatives’ role in this type of budgeting is very important. No proposals will be accepted without their endorsement. If the local governments do not invite you, you invite yourselves. It is your right to be part of the process,” said the Director.
This process has its basis on a DBM National Budget Memorandum No. 122 on 29 December 2011, mandating the use of the “bottom-up budgeting process” in the preparation of the National Government Agency budgets for FY 2013 that will fund anti-poverty programs and projects of about 300 to 400 focus municipalities and cities identified by the Human Development and Poverty-Reduction Cabinet Cluster (HDPRCC). This is also in line with the President’s Social Contract with the Filipino People (EO 43 Series of 2011) that calls for accountability, transparency, and social participation as significant requirements in the Aquino Administration’s goal to reduce poverty.(JPA/DIS/DSWD PIA 9- ZBST)
“We have made much progress using the bottom-up approach with the Kalahi-CIDSS* community-driven project,” shared Director Romo, “and it is about time to let this effective poverty-reduction mechanism loose in more areas needing it, including the urban cities”.
Sector representatives have shared that they were never consulted, or even invited during the budget preparation process especially from their local government units. Director Romo assured that this will certainly not be the case now.
“The sector representatives’ role in this type of budgeting is very important. No proposals will be accepted without their endorsement. If the local governments do not invite you, you invite yourselves. It is your right to be part of the process,” said the Director.
This process has its basis on a DBM National Budget Memorandum No. 122 on 29 December 2011, mandating the use of the “bottom-up budgeting process” in the preparation of the National Government Agency budgets for FY 2013 that will fund anti-poverty programs and projects of about 300 to 400 focus municipalities and cities identified by the Human Development and Poverty-Reduction Cabinet Cluster (HDPRCC). This is also in line with the President’s Social Contract with the Filipino People (EO 43 Series of 2011) that calls for accountability, transparency, and social participation as significant requirements in the Aquino Administration’s goal to reduce poverty.(JPA/DIS/DSWD PIA 9- ZBST)
