DBM RO 13 convened a Consultation Meeting with Asec Gerald R. Janda, in conjunction with the Technical Budget Hearing (TBH) for State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in the Caraga Region for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Budget Proposals last April 16–17, 2026, at North Eastern Mindanao State University – Cantilan Campus.

The two-day engagement brought Finance, Administrative and Academic staff from all four (4) State Universities in Caraga Region, each led by their respective University Presidents, demonstrating a collective commitment to advancing higher education through responsive and strategically aligned budget preparation. The activity was graced by Regional Director Nelia A. Alibin of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Caraga, underscoring the importance of inter-agency collaboration in ensuring coherence between institutional priorities and national development goals.

DBM Regional Director Maria Fe Jagna and Assistant Regional Director Jenneth C. Partosa, together with technical personnel in-charge four (4) State Universities and Colleges (SUCs provided constructive feedback and evaluation of the proposals to ensure alignment with national budgeting standards and both national and regional development priorities.

Highlighting the activity was the presence of Acting Secretary and DBM OPCCB Concurrent Director Gerald R. Janda, who provided substantive updates on Personnel Services (PS), particularly on position classification and compensation policies. His guidance on prevailing standards and emerging directions that bear significant implications on SUC organizational structures, staffing patterns, and resource allocation frameworks was warmly received and appreciated by the officials and staff. The consultation also provided a much needed venue for Asec Janda to hear actual concerns on the ground needed to shape nationwide polices.

The TBM served as a vital platform for presenting and evaluating the universities’ proposed budget allocations, infrastructure development plans, and priority programs, all aligned with their respective strategic objectives. Through structured dialogue and technical validation, the consultation strengthened accountability mechanisms and promoted a more results-oriented approach to budget formulation.

Overall, the conduct of the consultation and TBH reaffirmed DBM’s commitment to fostering sound fiscal management, institutional accountability, and strategic alignment across SUCs. It likewise reinforced the role of collaborative governance in shaping a responsive, sustainable, and forward-looking higher education sector in the Caraga Region.