In a significant move to harmonize national and local development efforts, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) has conducted a pivotal dialogue aimed at synchronizing investment priorities across the Philippines. The Regional-National Investment Programming (RNIP) Dialogue, held on Wednesday, November 26, marks the first such gathering since the agency's transformation from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
A New Mandate for Coherent Development
This landmark event follows the enactment of the Economy, Planning, and Development Act (Republic Act No. 12145), which formally established DEPDev. Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan emphasized that this legal reform solidifies the department's role in investment programming and significantly expands the influence of Regional Development Councils (RDCs) in shaping the national budget.
"This new charter empowers our Regional Offices to take a more proactive role in aligning regional priorities with national strategies," Balisacan explained. He stressed that by tightening the connections between planning, budgeting, monitoring, and evaluation, the government ensures development initiatives are coherent, inclusive, and results-driven.
Refining the Process for Tangible Results
The RNIP Dialogue serves as a crucial platform for government agencies to synchronize development goals, guarantee regional projects are included in the national budget, and enhance the transparency of priority programs. This year's assembly brought together DEPDev Regional Offices, RDCs—including the newly established Negros Island Region (NIR)—and officials from 13 national government agencies.
Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos, head of the DEPDev Regional Development Group, highlighted efforts to make the RNIP process more responsive. "For this RNIP Dialogue, we further refined our prioritization criteria to emphasize project readiness," he stated. These improvements are designed to build on past successes and increase the likelihood of regional priorities receiving budget allocations.
Linking Plans to the Budget
The RNIP process, initiated in 2023, systematically connects Regional Development Investment Programs (RDIP) with the Public Investment Program (PIP). The PIP outlines the national government's priority projects, while RDIPs capture each region's key development needs, ensuring they are reflected in national planning. These are then linked to the National Expenditure Program during the investment programming cycle.
The mechanism has already shown effectiveness: 66 percent of Agency Regional-National Investment Projects (ARNIPs) for Fiscal Year 2025 and 90 percent for FY 2026 were integrated into the Updated PIP 2023-2028. Notably, nearly half of the FY 2025 projects were included in the General Appropriations Act.
A Collective Push for Sustained Reform
Concluding the dialogue, Secretary Balisacan reaffirmed the government's commitment to advancing reforms in investment programming and the national budgeting process. "Our objective remains clear: to institutionalize a robust process for identifying priority regional programs and projects, and to ensure that these receive adequate budget support for timely and meaningful implementation," he said.
He underscored DEPDev's readiness to guide these efforts but noted that success hinges on sustained collaboration among line agencies, regional partners, and oversight institutions. The outcomes of this dialogue will be conveyed to the Office of the President, which has consistently supported the RDCs.
The high-level meeting was attended by several key officials, including Secretaries Juan Edgardo M. Angara (Education), Sharon S. Garin (Energy), Raphael P.M. Lotilla (Environment and Natural Resources), Renato U. Solidum Jr. (Science and Technology), and OIC-Secretary Rolando U. Toledo (Budget and Management), alongside RDC chairpersons and local government leaders.
