Eastern Visayas’ Regional Development Council (RDC) is upbeat about a higher chance of funding for the region’s proposed projects for 2026, with the submission of implementation-ready proposals.

Meylene Rosales, RDC vice chair and regional director of the National Economic and Development Authority, said they have required project proponents to submit documents as proof that agencies are ready to carry out these projects.

“The RDC has set the policy not to endorse any project to the national government if their proposals are not ready for implementation,” Rosales said in an interview on Wednesday. “Completion of implementation-ready documents boosts funding prospects by ensuring projects are ready for implementation upon approval.”

The council had set this policy to improve the batting average of RDC-endorsed projects in Eastern Visayas, she said.

Rosales noted that in the past two years, the batting average of RDC-endorsed priority programs and projects remained low at 18 percent.

Of the PHP157.4 billion worth of projects endorsed by the RDC for 2025, only PHP29.2 billion was included in this year’s national budget. In 2024, only PHP41.99 billion projects made it to the national budget out of the PHP233 billion endorsed by the regional body.

Department of Budget and Management (DBM) 8 (Eastern Visayas) Director Imelda Laceras, chair of the RDC’s development administration committee, said they must review if the proposed projects are aligned with the regional priorities and the thrust of the current administration.

“At times, there are things that the regional priorities are not matched with the department priorities. Even though it is included in the list with implementation-ready documents, it is not being endorsed by the agency’s central office to the DBM for inclusion in the NEP (National Expenditure Program),” Laceras said.

Proposals included in the NEP are still up for review by Congress if these are aligned with the priorities of the current administration before they are included in the General Appropriations Act, she said. (PNA)