The Regional Development Council in Eastern Visayas endorsed P196.47 billion worth of programs, projects, and activities for fiscal year 2027, covering infrastructure, economic, and social initiatives in the region.

The proposal was approved during the council’s first quarter meeting in Palo, Leyte. The largest share of the budget, P90.83 billion, is allocated for social development, followed by P88.20 billion for infrastructure, P62.96 billion for economic development, P6.81 billion for development administration, and P1.54 billion for environmental programs.

Social development spending includes investments in education, health, and social protection aimed at improving welfare and reducing poverty. However, RDC-8 chair and Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla noted that not all proposed projects may be included in the final national budget.

“We are aware that if this is submitted to the national government it will be subjected to debates because even they have to cut down on their budgets,” Petilla said. “Everybody will have to take a haircut because of what is happening right now.”

Petilla said the council used evidence-based planning to improve the chances of approval in Congress. Data from the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development showed that in 2025, 82.15% of the P77.42 billion worth of endorsed projects were included in the National Expenditure Plan, while 77.19% made it into the General Appropriations Act.