The Provincial Development Council-Executive Committee (PDC ExeCom), chaired by Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro, has approved the guidelines for the formulation of the Provincial Development Investment Program (PDIP) and the Annual Investment Program (AIP), establishing a framework for prioritizing and implementing development projects across the province.

The approved guidelines aim to strengthen Cebu’s development planning process by ensuring that provincial investments are aligned with the Local Government Code of 1991 (LGC) and improving access to funding from national government agencies, international development partners, and other financing sources.

“We understand that government resources are limited. That is why we need to formulate the PDIP,” Gov. Baricuatro said during the special PDC ExeCom meeting held at the Capitol on August 4.

The meeting was attended by Provincial Board Member Celestino Martinez III, chairperson of the Committee on Budget and Appropriations; Cordova Mayor and League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)-Cebu Chapter President Cesar Suan; and representatives from Cebu’s six component cities.

Baricuatro emphasized the importance of careful planning and responsible allocation of government resources to ensure that programs and projects create meaningful benefits for Cebuanos.

“Despite the reality that we cannot address each and every concern all at once, what we can do is listen carefully, plan wisely, and make sure that our resources are directed towards programs and projects that would make a meaningful difference in the lives of the Cebuanos,” she said.

The PDIP will serve as the province’s rolling list of priority programs, projects, and activities covering five major development sectors. The AIP, meanwhile, will identify the annual funding requirements needed to implement these priority initiatives.

According to Elizar Sabinay Jr. of the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), the new guidelines are part of the Capitol’s efforts to improve project formulation, monitoring, and evaluation while helping local government units (LGUs) access additional funding opportunities.

“With the guidelines, it can give an opportunity for local government units to look for different funding sources, which could be the province, through the Development Fund, national government agencies, international funding institutions, as well as private parties,” Sabinay said.

He added that projects and programs included in the PDIP will have better opportunities to secure funding support.

“If your project or program is part of the PDIP, then you have more access and chances of funding,” he said.

Sabinay noted that the PDIP was last utilized by the province during the administration of former Governor Hilario Davide III.

The approval of the investment planning guidelines marks part of the Cebu Provincial Government’s continuing efforts to establish a more strategic, transparent, and results-oriented approach to development planning.

(Capitol PIO, Photos by YJB and FE)