30 October 2014

HON. JOSE MARIA R. ZUBIRI, JR.

Governor
Province of Bukidnon
Dear Governor Zubiri:
Greetings!
In line with the Philippine Development Plans goal of inclusive growth, poverty
reduction, and promoting good governance at the local level, the Human Development
and Poverty Reduction Cluster (HDPRC), through the Grassroots Budgeting Oversight
Agencies (Department of Budget and Management [DBM]; Department of the Interior
and Local Government [DILG]; National Anti- Poverty Commission [NAPC]; and the
Department of Social Welfare and Development [DSWD]) have implemented the
Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Process (GPBP) formerly called Bottom-up
Budgeting (BUB) since 2012.
Joint Memorandum Circulars signed by the four (4) GPB Oversight Agencies were
issued since 2012 until present to provide participating agencies and local government
units with the policy guidelines, processes, responsibilities and timelines in the GPB
approach.
As an overview, on FY 2013, 54 local government units (LGUs) under Region 10
were funded under GPBP. This FY 2014, the number of LGUs which are benefiting
through GPBP increased to 87, and for Fiscal Years 2015 and 2016, the
implementation of GPB will eventually cover all cities and municipalities in the country,
thus, all 93 LGUs under Region 10 will be included as GPBP goes universal in its
coverage of LGU-beneficiaries.
GPBP is participated by the following National Government Agencies:
Department of Budget and Management
Department of Health
Department of Labor and Employment
Technical Skills Development Authority
National Economic Development Authority
Department of the Environment and Natural Resources
Department of Agriculture
Department of Tourism
Department of Social Welfare and Development
Department of Agrarian Reform
Department of Education
Department of Trade and Industry
The issuance of DBM-DILG-NAPC-DSWD Joint Memorandum Circular No. 5 re:
Policy Guidelines and Procedures in the Implementation of the Grassroots
Participatory Budgeting Process (Formerly called Bottom-Up Budgeting) for the
preparation of the FY 2016 Budget and Succeeding Years, on October 1, 2014 signals
the 4th run of th program (see attached copy of JMC #5). Item 4.16 of the said JMC
particularly refers to Composition of the Regional Poverty Reduction Action Team of
which the Provincial Planning and Development Officers (PPDOs) are now
included. This would mean that the PPDOs will sit as members of the Regional
Poverty Reduction Action Team (RPRAT) - the group that shall provide support and
guidance to LGUs throughout the GPB process and will monitor the implementation of
GPB Projects.
It is therefore on this light that the undersigned, being the RPRAT Chairperson in
Region 10, formally invites your Planning and Development Officer to attend the LPRAT

Orientations in your province this coming November 6-7, 2014. The venue of the said
LPRAT Orientations will be arranged by our Provincial Office.
Furthermore, RPRAT regularly holds quarterly meetings to update about the status
of the respective projects under the different participating National Government
Agencies as well as discuss matters pertinent to the implementation of the same. As
one of the members of the RPRAT now, your PPDO will be invited to these meetings
through advisories from this Office.
For clarifications about GPB, you may contact Ms. Hazel L. Occea, LGOO VI/GPB
Regional Focal Person from this Office through office nos. 858-2191 to 93.
On behalf of the GPBP Project Management Office, we welcome your PPDO to the
RPRAT.
Thank you very much.

Very truly yours,

ATTY. RENE K. BURDEOS, CESO III
Regional Director
Chairperson, RPRAT 10