17/07/2026
Strengthening Barangay Governance Through Strategic Strategic Development Planning and Budgeting:
From July 15 to 17, 2026, the Office of the City Mayor, through the City Budget Office, in partnership with the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), successfully conducted the Barangay Development Planning and Budgeting Coaching under the initiative "Aligning the Barangay Budget with the City's Vision."
The three-day coaching activity served as a capacity-building program designed to strengthen the planning and budgeting capabilities of barangay officials. It provided participants with practical guidance on the proper preparation of the Barangay Annual Budget, ensuring that proposed programs, projects, and activities are responsive to community needs while remaining aligned with the City's development priorities and Annual Investment Program.
As the lead office for the activity, the City Budget Office, headed by OIC Jessie V. De Mesa, provided comprehensive coaching on budgeting policies, fiscal management, budget preparation, and compliance with existing laws, rules, and regulations governing barangay finances. Complementing these discussions, the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), through Engr. Jemima D. Dumdum, EnP. Officer-in-Charge, City Planning and Development Coordinator, facilitated the development planning sessions, emphasizing evidence-based planning, strategic prioritization of projects, and the alignment of barangay development initiatives with the City's Annual Investment Program and overall development agenda.
The activity gathered representatives from nearly 30 barangays, including Barangay Chairpersons, Barangay Secretaries, Barangay Treasurers, and members of the Committee on Finance and Appropriations. It was likewise attended by Hon. Benjie Acibal, Chairperson of the Committee on Finance, Budget and Appropriations; Hon. Zosimo Lorenzo, ABC President; Atty. Rizaldy Mendoza, City Administrator; and Mr. Benedict Pangan, DILG City Local Government Operations Officer (CLGOO). Their participation underscored the City's commitment to strengthening participatory governance, promoting fiscal accountability, and fostering collaborative local development.
The activity was made possible through the leadership and directive of Honorable City Mayor Florida P. Robes, whose administration continues to champion good governance by empowering barangays with the knowledge, skills, and technical support necessary to prepare development-oriented and fiscally responsible budgets.
Through initiatives such as this, the City Government of San Jose del Monte continues to strengthen barangay governance by ensuring that local planning and budgeting are strategically aligned, transparent, and responsive to the needs of every community , advancing the shared vision of a more progressive, resilient, and inclusive City of San Jose del Monte.