The Bicol Regional Development Council (RDC) recently endorsed for inclusion in national agency budgets about 30 regional priority projects, including the establishment of abaca production facilities and fiber quality improvement in Catanduanes.
The project proposed by the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA), which would cover all 11 municipalities, has an estimated funding of P48.27 million.
The projects for inclusion in the 4th Regional National Investment Programming (RNIP) Dialogue scheduled last Sept. 24, 2026, also included the construction of rainwater collection systems proposed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in selected PENRO and Protected Area Management Offices (PAMO) in all six Bicol provinces with a proposed funding of P18.50 million.
Another regionwide project is DOST Bicol’s STARBOOKS regional Expansion – Transforming Schools and Barangays into Digital STEM Learning Hubs with a cost of P19.74 million.
The RNIP process institutionalized under Republic Act 12145 links regional priorities with national and sectoral priorities through the RDIP and PIP, with the 4th RNIP Dialogue aiming to strengthen the inclusion of regional priorities in agency budgets and monitor previous RNIP projects.
In preparation, the RDC Secretariat identified the Region’s Priority Projects for FY 2028 based on development plan alignment, PIP criteria, investment requirements, budget readiness, and realistic funding needs.
The Council also approved inclusion in the Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP) 2023-2028 five projects submitted by the Catanduanes State University (CatSU).
These include the Construction of Two-Storey Modernized Quality Assurance Building at the main campus (P62 million); Rehabilitation of Function Hall at Panganiban Campus (P18 million); Repair/Rehabilitation/Retrofitting of Agriculture Building at Panganiban Campus; Construction of Two-Storey Supply and Property Management Building (P60 million); and Repair/Rehabilitation/Retrofitting of Administrative Building at Panganiban campus (P40 million).