I wrote on this topic recently. And so this is part 2.

The consultations on the national government budget were held last May 23 to 25. Cabinet Secretaries, Undersecretaries and other officials presented their budget proposals for 2006. Officials of all the Regional Development Councils (RDCs) were there to ask about and lobby for their priority projects.

One thing that easily cropped up is that there are many projects that can't be implemented because the national government does not have enough funds.

The national government agencies were given budget ceilings but most agencies presented proposals which were 40 to 75 percent higher than the ceilings.

With a budget deficit that amounts to over P150 billion a year, there is really not much that the national government can do but try to trim expenses and fund only the high priority projects which have significant effects on improving our economic situation.

The passage of the E-VAT Law amendments will help ease the funding problem but it won't solve it. In fact, a balanced budget is not expected until 2008. That's three years down the road.

Until that time, the government has to do a lot of trimming of its expenses (including expenses for salaries) and generate more funds.

Some priority projects in this region such as road projects in Samar , will get the needed attention (and rehabilitation) next year. But the funding of the P600 million counterpart for the DZR airport project is still uncertain. It won't happen in 2006. DOTC did not include it in its budget proposal for 2006

2007? It is highly possible the funds will be available by then. What should give us such confidence is that the national government is still committed to implement it since it is included in the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan which runs from 2004 to 2010.

We can still get our fair share. But we must always keep on trying.