Press Release
September 28, 2022

Robin, Iginiit ang Mas Malaking Budget Para sa Mindanao Development Programs

Para tiyakin ang pangmatagalang kapayapaan sa Mindanao, kailangang dagdagan ang budget para sa development nito, kabilang ang mga programang isinusulong ng Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

Iginiit ito ni Sen. Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla nitong Miyerkules, sa pagdinig ng Senate finance subcommittee para sa budget ng MinDA para sa 2023.

"Malapit sa amin ang Mindanao. Para sa amin, pag nakikita namin ang budget, kasi pinakita po sa amin ang budget ng DBM. Ang laki sa Luzon, tapos pagdating sa Visayas, malaki rin. Pero pagdating sa Mindanao, medyo maliit pa rin. Medyo may kalungkutan po doon pagdating sa punto na yan," ani Padilla, matapos malaman na nabawasan ang budget ng MinDA para sa 2023.

"Sabi nyo nga, napakahalaga ng kapayapaan. At alam natin ang ugat ng lahat ng kaguluhan ang dapat maging pantay-pantay ang development," dagdag ng mambabatas kay MinDA Chairperson Ma. Belen Acosta.

Ani Padilla, bagama't gagawa sila ni finance subcommittee chairman Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa ng paraan para dagdagan ang budget ng MinDA, dapat makausap din ng opisyal ng MinDA ang Department of Budget and Management.

Para sa 2023, may P158.958 milyon ang MinDA sa National Expenditure Program - mas mababa nang P38.312 milyon kumpara sa budget nito na P197.27 milyon para sa 2022.

Dahil dito, may P306.642 milyong proyektong hindi mapopondohan, kasama rito ang:

* Mindanao digital innovations program: P18.98 milyon;
* Expanded Mindanao economic recovery program: P20.977 milyon;
* Mindanao River Basins Food-Energy-Water nexus program: P12.390 milyon;
* Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Heritage Preservation and Development Support Program: P10 milyon

Samantala, umaasa si Padilla na magkaroon din ng sapat na pondo at suporta ng lokal na pamahalaan para mabuo na ang airport sa Mlang, Cotabato.

Ani Padilla, sayang ang airport na higit 15 taon nang nakabinbin. "Sayang yan. Maganda yan sana sa Central Mindanao. Ang progresibong lugar talagang may airport, seaport. Hanggang wala po yan, sayang ang 15 years," aniya.


Robin Pushes Bigger Budget for Mindanao Development Programs

To ensure lasting peace in Mindanao, there must be a bigger budget for its development - including for programs being pursued by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

Sen. Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla stressed this on Wednesday, at the hearing of the Senate finance subcommittee for the budget of the MinDA for 2023.

"Malapit sa amin ang Mindanao. Para sa amin, pag nakikita namin ang budget, kasi pinakita po sa amin ang budget ng DBM. Ang laki sa Luzon, tapos pagdating sa Visayas, malaki rin. Pero pagdating sa Mindanao, medyo maliit pa rin. Medyo may kalungkutan po doon pagdating sa punto na yan (Mindanao is close to us. We have seen the proposed budgets for Luzon and Visayas, and they are considerable. But for Mindanao, the budget is quite small. This is very sad)," said Padilla, after learning of a budget cut for MinDA for 2023.

"Sabi nyo nga, napakahalaga ng kapayapaan. At alam natin ang ugat ng lahat ng kaguluhan ang dapat maging pantay-pantay ang development (As you said, peace is very important. And we know the key to peace is to address the cause of chaos by ensuring equitable development)," he told MinDA Chairperson Ma. Belen Acosta.

Padilla said that while he and finance subcommittee chairman Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa will find ways to increase MinDA's budget, the agency's officials must also make representations with the Department of Budget and Management.

For 2023, the National Expenditure Program allotted P158.958 million for MinDA - P197.27 million lower than the agency's budget of P38.312 million for 2022. Because of this, some P306.642 million in projects may go unfunded, including:

* Mindanao digital innovations program: P18.98 million;
* Expanded Mindanao economic recovery program: P20.977 million;
* Mindanao River Basins Food-Energy-Water nexus program: P12.390 million;
* Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Heritage Preservation and Development Support Program: P10 million

Meanwhile, Padilla voiced hopes that there will finally be enough funds and local government support for the airport project in Mlang, Cotabato. He said it is a waste that the project has been in limbo for more than 15 years.

"Sayang yan. Maganda yan sana sa Central Mindanao. Ang progresibong lugar talagang may airport, seaport. Hanggang wala po yan, sayang ang 15 years (It would be a waste. The airport would have been good for Central Mindanao. Progressive places have airports and seaports. Without these, the last 15 years would have been for nothing)," he said.

*****

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upZNCY4zkUA

News Latest News Feed