CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-10, as the technical secretariat of the Northern Mindanao Regional Development Council (RDC)-10, recently conducted the Regional Planning and Budgeting Forum, here.

During the said forum, NEDA-10 Regional Director Mylah Faye Aurora B. Cariño presented the updated vision of northern Mindanao and the Regional Development Plan 2023–2028, which is the blueprint of the region’s development directions for the next six years.

She also emphasized the need for agency regional offices (AROs), government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), and state colleges and universities (SUCs) to align their programs and projects with the region's priorities.

Cariño likewise highlighted the salient features of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 National Budget Call, particularly on conducting broad-based consultations with regional stakeholders and infusing public sector projects in lagging or disadvantaged areas through the Convergence Areas for Peace and Development (CAPDev) program.

The forum formally kicked off the budget preparation activities after the RDC-10 approved the Region 10 Budget Proposal Guidelines during its 132nd Full Council Meeting, December 13, 2022.

Handholding activities were subsequently conducted, February 2–3, 2023, to guide the AROs, GOCCs, SUCs, and other government instrumentalities in preparing the FY 2024 budget proposals, particularly in completing the regional budget forms. This is to level off expectations and ensure conformity to the guidelines set by the RDC-10.

Meanwhile, Cariño encouraged all planning and budget officers of the AROs, GOCCs, SUCs, and other government instrumentalities to sustain their dynamism and enthusiasm as the region gears toward its second base camp, the AmBisyon Natin 2040. (NEDA-10/PIA-10)