CLOSING REMARKS OF  NEDA 9 REGIONAL DIRECTOR RAFAEL G. EVANGELISTA, JR.,

ZAMBOANGA CITY SYNCHRONIZED INVESTMENT PROGRAMMING AND BUDGET PLANNING ORIENTATION SEMINAR, ZAMBOECOZONE, SAN RAMON, ZAMBOANGA CITY, 29 SEPTEMBER 2000, 9 AM

    HON. MARIA CLARA LORENZO-LOBREGAT,CITY MAYOR OF ZAMBOANGA; USEC. ROLDAN B. DALMAN, PRESIDENTIAL ASSISTANT FOR REGIONAL CONCERNS OF WESTERN MINDANAO; OUR HOST, CHAIRMAN MANUEL A. DALIPE OF THE ZAMBOANGA FREEPORT AUTHORITY; OUR PARTNERS IN THIS ACTIVITY DIRECTOR GERARDO CONCEPCION OF DBM; DIRECTOR RENE BURDEOS OF THE DILG; DIRECTOR MIRALAM TILLAH OF THE DA IX; DIRECTOR ANTONIO STA. ELENA OF DPWH IX; REGIONAL DIRECTORS OF OTHER COOPERATING AGENCIES; LOCAL CHIEF OFFICIALS; BARANGAY CHAIRMEN; FRIENDS; LADIES AND GENTLEMEN GOOD MORNING.

    FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR STICKING IT WITH US THE WHOLE DAY.  I KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALL BUSY PEOPLE AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE PRIORITIZED YOUR TIME TO BE WITH US IN THIS ONE-DAY ORIENTATION SEMINAR. SPECIAL MENTION TO THE BARANGAYS WHO ARE WELL REPRESENTED WITH AN ALMOST PERFECT ATTENDANCE BY THEIR BARANGAY CHAIRMEN OR REPRESENTATIVES. 

    I HOPE THAT THE ONE-DAY ORIENTATION SEMINAR HAS GIVEN YOU THE ADEQUATE INSIGHTS AND INTRICACIES OF WHAT THE SYNCHRONIZED INVESTMENT AND BUDGET PLANNING PROCESS (SIBPP) IS ALL ABOUT.   AS ELUCIDATED BY THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS THE SIBPP SYSTEM IS ONE OF THE PRIORITIES OF THE PRESIDENT TO FAST-TRACK THE DEVELOPMENT IN MINDANAO. IT SHALL SEEK TO HAVE AN INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT PLAN BACKED UP BY AN ADEQUATE RESOURCE ALLOCATION.

    I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE SIBPP IS A BOTTOMS-UP APPROACH IN PLANNING.  THE PROCESS SHALL START WITH PLANNING, PROGRAMMING AND BUDGETING AT THE LOWEST HIERACHY OF GOVERNMENT THAT IS THE BARANGAY.  THIS IS THE AN ATTEMPT ON THE GOVERNMENT TO HAVE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING CYCLE BY TIEING UP PLANS WITH THE CORRESPONDING BUDGETARY COMPONENT. 

    EACH BARANGAY SHOULD THEREFORE PREPARE THEIR RESEPCTIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND INVESTMENT PROGRAM WHICH SHALL THEN BE ELEVATED TO THE CITY OR MUNICIPAL LEVEL FOR CONSOLIDATION.  IN THE CASES OF THE MUNCIPALITIES, THEIR PLANS AND INVESTMENT PROGRAMS SHALL BE INCORPORATED AT THE PROVINCIAL LEVEL.  THIS COMPLETES THE CYCLE AND WILL TRULY BE A PARTICIPATORY APPROACH IN PLANNING AND ENSURE THAT THE BUDGET RELEASES SHALL BE USED FOR THE ACTUAL PRIORITIES OF THE  COMPONENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS OF REGION IX.

    I WOULD LIKE THEREFORE, TO SEEK YOUR COOPERATION IN SUPPORTING THIS SIBPP.  THE SUCCESS OF THIS SYSTEM WILL EVENTUALLY DEPEND ON YOUR TIMELY, EFFICIENT AND CONCENTIOUS PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION OF PLANS AND INVESTMENT REQUIREMENTS. 

    LASTLY, LET ME EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE TO THE ZAMBOANGA FREEPORT AUTHORITY FOR GRACIOUSLY ACCOMODATING US IN THEIR VERY BEAUTIFUL CONFERENCE HALL,

    MUCHISIMAS GRACIAS Y BUENAS TARDES A TODO.