DENR consults with Cebu groups for 2014 budget

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources -7 has met with 70 civil society organizations in Cebu for a consultative meeting for its P588 M budget for 2014.

“This public consultation dialogue with the various stakeholders is pursued to ensure transparency and accountability in the budget process and implementation of the agency’s budget proposal for 2014,” said DENR 7 Executive Director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo in a statement to The FREEMAN.

The “big ticket” or flagship programs highlighted in the consultative meeting include the national greening program, “Balik Probinsya” program, anti-illegal logging campaign, cadastral survey, clean air and water, and geohazard mapping and assessment.

Montejo said the exercise is in compliance with the direction of the Aquino administration and that of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for an enhanced participatory governance and transparency in the planning and budgeting among government offices.

“This is also consistent with the President Aquino’s thrust of empowering the poor and the vulnerable sectors of the society by promoting participatory planning and budgeting as well as forging constructive partnerships with the CSOs,” Montejo said.

 Montejo added that DENR is preparing a 2014 budget proposal though a bottom-up budgeting, which takes into consideration the development needs of poor cities or municipalities as identified in their respective local poverty reduction action plans that shall be formulated with the strong participation of basic sector organizations and other CSOs. — (FREEMAN)