DOT-7 released P7.2 M for 25 projects under Bottom-up Budgeting program

CEBU, Philippines - The regional office of the Department of Tourism in Central Visayas announced the ongoing implementation of the P39 million Bottom-up Budgeting (BuB) program, spread in different municipalities in the four provinces of the region.

 DOT-7 reported that as of July 31, this year, the agency has already released P7.2 million for 25 projects participated by 20 local government units.

BuB is a program of DOT, which aims to ensure that funding requirements for the development needs of municipalities and cities are included in agency budget proposals.

Likewise, it promotes inclusive participation in community development by empowering civil society organizations (CSOs) to be engaged in budgeting process.

Cynthia Monzon, DOT-7 BuB focal person said that bulk of these approved projects are tourism-infrastructure such as building of tourism information centers while others include trainings and workshops on customer service and tours, among others.

In 2014, the program administered projects like providing diving equipment, boardwalk rehabilitation, establishment of tourism information center, among others.

The agency allocated a total budget of P25.6 million last year, of which P19.3 million or 75 percent has already been released. The agency has approved total of 40 projects by 19 LGUs, mostly tourism infrastructure.

BuB is dubbed as "landmark reform" because the Philippines is the first country in the world that has implemented participatory budgeting at the national level.

The BuB projects were first jointly identified by LGUs and local CSOs through a participatory planning and budgeting exercise.

Once the municipality identified their priority tourism project they need to get at least three endorsement or backing from the CSOs before they can be considered in the national government in the BuB program.

According to Monson, the municipality also submits the project to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) which will then be endorsed to the DOT for evaluation.

DOT has yet to release the entire budget of last year as they are awaiting for the liquidation of the projects before releasing the remaining budget. There are also some projects that still lack documents.

Some P6.4 million of last year's fund is expected to be released by before the end of this year. (FREEMAN)