A lawmaker on Friday appealed to Congress to restore the PHP22 billion slashed in the appropriations for Mindanao in the proposed PHP5.268 trillion 2023 national budget.

During the briefing of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said a total of PHP628 billion has been allotted for Mindanao next year from PHP650 billion this year.

He said Mindanao should get its fair share of national resources, arguing that the national government should increase its funding instead of reducing it.

“Mindanao is left behind again! I am calling on all House (of Representatives) members from our island to join us in working for the return of PHP22 billion to our constituents. That’s the least we can do, maintain the 2022 level if we cannot increase it,” Rodriguez said.

He cited the 2020 census showing that the island’s residents totaled 26.3 million, or 24 percent of the country’s population of 109.6 million.

He added that Mindanao contributes 17 percent of the nation’s yearly total output of products and services.

“If we reckon our island’s budgetary share on its economic contribution, it should be entitled to at least PHP895 billion,” he said.

Rodriguez said the executive and legislative branches should work together to promote inclusive growth by “dispersing development and pouring more resources” in areas that are less developed or not developed at all.

He noted that Mindanao is where seven of the top 10 poorest provinces are located and requires affirmative action through bigger budget allocations and more rural government services.

“If the government builds roads and other infrastructure in remote communities, people will go there and there will be more economic activities in these areas,” he said. (PNA)

Photo Credit: Facebook/RufusBRodriguez