By Darryl John Esguerra
MANILA – The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) are requiring national government agencies to consult regional stakeholders earlier in preparing their 2028 budget proposals and explain how their recommendations are considered.
Under Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, s. 2026, agencies must engage Regional Development Councils (RDCs), local government units (LGUs), civil society organizations (CSOs) and other stakeholders before the National Budget Call is issued, giving regional priorities an opportunity to shape spending plans before proposals are finalized.
The guidelines also require agencies to account for regional recommendations, including whether proposed projects were incorporated, modified, deferred or rejected, and why.
“Regional voices must be heard before budget decisions are made — not after,” DBM Acting Secretary Kim Robert De Leon said during the 4th Regional-National Investment Programming Dialogue on Sept. 24, as quoted in a DBM news release Sunday.
“Our RDCs, LGUs and regional stakeholders are closest to the realities on the ground. You know where the gaps are,” he added.
The new process begins Oct. 13, with agencies undertaking early priority-setting for their 2028 budget proposals.
Regional consultations and RDC reviews will follow before agencies consolidate their proposed programs, activities and projects.
Participants will include congressional district representatives, private-sector groups, academic institutions, development partners, beneficiaries and sectoral organizations, alongside LGUs, CSOs and concerned government agencies.
The new guidelines cover departments, agencies, bureaus, offices, commissions, state universities and colleges, and other national government instrumentalities funded through the General Appropriations Act.
Personnel services, statutory and mandatory obligations, routine operating expenses and other items outside regional planning and prioritization are excluded.
Regional endorsements will not guarantee funding as agencies will retain authority to set priorities based on national development goals, available funds, project readiness and existing budget rules.
The reform also aims to identify project-preparation gaps and implementation constraints before budget proposals are finalized, reducing the risk of delays in delivering public investments.
“This is where our partnership becomes critical. Together with DEPDev, the RDCs, implementing agencies and LGUs, DBM must help identify these constraints earlier — not when the budget is already being finalized,” De Leon said.
Under the guidelines, DBM regional offices will provide technical assistance on budget preparation, while DEPDev will support regional planning, investment programming and RDC review of proposed projects.
Once the National Budget Call is issued, agencies will finalize their proposals, taking into account regional recommendations, RDC priorities, national development objectives and applicable budget parameters.
“For FY 2028 and the succeeding years, let us work together to build a stronger pipeline of regional investments — not merely projects that deserve funding, but projects increasingly prepared to use that funding well and deliver on time,” De Leon said. (PNA)
Department of Budget and Management Acting Secretary Kim Robert De Leon
