Executive Briefing and Formal Launching of PLPEM Guidelines in Western Visayas

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) formulated the five-volume guidelines on Provincial/Local Planning and Expenditure Management (PLPEM) in June 2007. This signaled the integration of regional/provincial and local development plans with the physical plan. The guidelines will help ebb the burden of the local government units in plan formulation. The policy context of the PLPEM is provided under the Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, 2007 of the DILG, NEDA, DBM and DOF. The roles of the oversight agencies in planning, investment programming, budgeting and revenue generation at the national, provincial and sub-provincial levels were delineated.

Why is there a focus on the provinces? That is because the province has a total control of the entire planning-programming-budgeting processes and a broadened mandate under the Local Government Code. Likewise, the province links local development objectives with regional and national priorities, among others.


To ensure full support of the provincial governments and institutionalize the use of the guidelines by the provinces, orientation of Governors were conducted for the local chief executives of the six provinces of the region. The Orientation of Governors were conducted in two sessions. Session 1 was held in Bacolod City on November 26, 2007 for the Provincial Governor, members of the Sanggunian and Department Heads of the Province of Negros Occidental. The activity was sponsored by the Province of Negros Occidental.
Session 2 was held on November 28, 2007 at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol in Iloilo City for the governors of the provinces of Iloilo, Aklan, Antique, Guimaras and Capiz. NEDA Regional Office VI spearheaded the activity in coordination with the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and the Provincial Governments of the five provinces in Panay and Guimaras Islands.


This was followed by a Refresher Course on the Implementation of PLPEM designed to institutionalize the use of the guidelines among provinces. This provided an avenue where the PLPEM Provincial Core Teams created in each province by Executive Order could discuss, exchange views among planners where practices are learned, unlearned and relearned. It was participated in by legislators, planners, treasurers, accountants and budget officers of the 6 provinces in Region VI. The heterogeneity of the participants in the Refresher Course was an aspiration achieved by NEDA since legislators and planners were able to convene and work on the identification and prioritization of programs and projects.

The work is cut out for all of us in 2008. Through these guidelines, it is hoped that a more integrated and usable plan will be achieved.

Prepared by: Ma. Leah Letrero