SLSU Pushes ₱2.94B in Priority Projects at FY 2027 Localized Budgeting and Planning Forum

Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) successfully conducted the "Paglupad Para's Paglambu: FY 2027 Localized Budgeting and Planning Forum" on November 21, 2025 (Friday) at the Hotel De SLSU Function Room, bringing together planning officers, campus directors, faculty, administrative officials, student representatives, and project proponents from across the institution's six campuses. Spearheaded by the University Planning and Development Office (UPDO), the event strengthened SLSU's commitment to evidence-based planning, strategic investment programming, and proactive institutional development.

During the forum, the UPDO formally received thirty-eight (38) project proposals from 27 proponents, totaling ₱2,946,337,477.50. These proposals will serve as integral inputs for updating the Public Investment Program (PIP) 2023–2028 and for formulating the Three-Year Rolling Infrastructure Program (TRIP) 2027–2029, in compliance with the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Memorandum dated October 29, 2025. The initiative ensures that SLSU's priority programs and projects—spanning instruction, research, extension, production, student development, and infrastructure—are aligned with national development directions and ready for possible inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2027 national budget preparation.

The activity also provided a platform to cascade the supplemental guidelines for TRIP 2027–2029 as stipulated under Section 6.5 of DBM–DEPDev Joint Circular No. 2025-01. Proponents were oriented that Tier 2 spending proposals must (1) be programmatic in nature and aligned with target outcomes under the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) and Results Matrices; (2) be fully reflected in the University's Land Use Development and Infrastructure Plan (LUDIP) and included in the Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP); and (3) carry a minimum total project cost of ₱200 million. These parameters highlight the national government's shifting emphasis toward strategic, high-impact, and future-oriented investments within state universities and colleges.

In his opening message, Dr. Jude A. Duarte, University President, emphasized the need for foresight-driven and context-responsive project development. "Our goal should not merely be directed to get our proposals approved, but to carefully ensure that our proposals are needs-based and responsive to the changing circumstances and evolving priorities within the University environment. That is very important. A proactive, not a reactive, budget proposal and program is what we need to better respond to the emerging and unforeseen opportunities and foster a culture of innovation and growth of our University," he noted.

The proposals presented covered a broad spectrum of developmental priorities, reflecting the University's vision of building a smart, green, innovative, and globally engaged academic environment. Among the notable submissions were: renewable energy and electrification initiatives; modern laboratory, ICT, engineering, and science facilities; the Agricultural Genomics Research Center; the SLSU iTRAVEL smart tourism and virtual experience laboratory; the Center for Lifelong Learning and Skills Innovation; housing and dormitory facilities; multi-campus smart-classroom upgrades; robotics and innovation hubs; and advanced research centers dedicated to energy, waste systems, and climate-risk reduction. These are complemented by proposals focused on enhancing instruction, strengthening research capabilities, supporting student development, improving campus safety and resilience, and elevating institutional capacity.

The forum also featured collaborative discussions and sectoral feedback sessions following each cluster of presentations, enabling constructive dialogue among top management, faculty, administrative personnel, student leaders, and campus planning teams. This multi-stakeholder engagement ensured that proposals are technically sound, contextually relevant, and aligned with both institutional mandates and national priorities.

With the conclusion of the activity, the UPDO will begin encoding all proposals into the Public Investment Program Online (PIPOL) System, marking the start of the University's formal preparation for the FY 2027 budget cycle. The forum stands as a testament to SLSU's strengthened planning culture, its commitment to transparent and participatory governance, and its ongoing pursuit of institutional excellence and long-term development.