THE Philippine Development Plan is often not fully aligned with budget priorities, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative Baba Takashi said.
Speaking at the Philippine Development Forum, Mr. Baba said: “We find that while the Philippine development plan sets the strategic direction, its alignment with the national budget is not always strong.”
This has caused delays in projects supported by Official Development Assistance (ODA) , he said on Oct. 6.
He noted that the Philippines sends “mixed signals on which priorities should be supported by ODA and local funds.”
Mr. Baba said the National Government committed to allocate counterpart funding of up to P6 trillion for foreign-funded projects, on top of the budget for regular projects and programs.
“Development partners are prepared to support the infrastructure sector with up to P2.1 trillion in public investment from 2025 to 2028,” he said.
Rep. Mikaela Angela B. Suansing, who chairs the House appropriations committee, has said that Congress supported the budget for 2026 foreign-assisted projects, noting that legislators left the executive branch’s proposed ODA allocations intact.
Mr. Baba also noted the poor coordination by core government agencies a disconnect between executive and legislative priorities, leading to inefficiencies in project rollouts.
The he said operations and maintenance budgets are also an issue.
“Inadequate funding or lack of long-term planning for maintenance leads to rapid deterioration of facilities and services. This gap undermines the very investment made in infrastructure,” he said. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante