P16.7 billion allocated for BuB and Kalsada in 2017

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced that P16.7 billion will be allocated in the 2017 national budget to implement Bottom-up Budgeting (BuB) and the Konkreto at Ayos na Lansangan ang Daan Tungo sa Pangkalahatang Kaunlaran (Kalsada) program for cities nationwide. 

2017 will be the first year for Kalsada and the fifth year for BuB for cities.

Of the P16.7 billion, P13.5 billion will be for Kalsada for the upgrading and rehabilitation of city roads, while P3.2 billion will be for the implementation of BuB projects. In 2017, the entire funds for Kalsada, and more than half of the funds for BuB will be released directly to cities.

The direct fund release is based on the local government units’ (LGUs) fulfillment of good governance conditions and the implementation of public financial management measures.

“With the government expanding key programs, such as BuB and Kalsada, in the proposed 2017 budget, we support cities’ initiatives to fully achieve their mandates. It is worth noting that upon fulfillment of the performance and good governance criteria, we will release the funds directly to LGUs, which, ultimately, will enable them to perform better and be more efficient in delivering public services,” Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said.

“In Kalsada, for example, the national government is making a targeted investment to fund the upgrading and rehabilitation of city roads and bridges. We want to make our cities safer and more equipped to cater to the needs of our citizens,” he added.

Abad also said cities, with the support of national government, will complete their City Road Network Development Plans (CRNDP) and lay out a six-year plan to upgrade and rehabilitate 6,000 kilometers of city roads by 2022. In 2017, this plans to upgrade 500km of city roads and rehabilitate and improve 200km of city roads nationwide. The target will be higher in the succeeding year at 800km and 450km, respectively—bringing it to 1,250km in 2018.

As of 2015, 5,874km of roads remain unpaved in cities, while 9,503km are paved, with 7,508km built on concrete and 1,995km on asphalt.

Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento called on local government executives to pass a local resolution addressed to their respective representatives in Congress to support the efforts to strengthen LGUs across the country, especially the institutionalization of BuB and Kalsada.

This sentiment was echoed by the League of Cities in the Philippines, headed by Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista. He expressed support and interest in Kalsada, as it reshapes budget priorities to focus on social services and allocation to LGUs.

In an earlier statement, League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) Secretary-General Edgar Chatto lauded the expansion of Kalsada and expressed the LPP’s commitment to support the program.