SLSU Leads Eastern Visayas SUCs with 11 of 18 TRIP-Validated Infrastructure PPAs for FY 2027

Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) emerged as a leading institution in infrastructure planning and investment readiness after securing 11 out of the 18 TRIP-validated infrastructure Programs, Projects, and Activities (PPAs) among all State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in Eastern Visayas for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027. This milestone was highlighted during the Technical Budget Hearing (TBH) held on April 13, 2026, at the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Regional Office VIII Conference Hall, pursuant to National Budget Memorandum Nos. 156 and 157.

Representing SLSU in the said hearing were Dr. Christine Alma Mae M. Daguplo, Vice President for Administration and Finance; Mr. Leo A. Omamalin, Director for University Planning and Development; and Mr. Robin Ariel F. Sumaya, Budget Officer III. Their participation underscored the University’s strong commitment to strategic infrastructure development, fiscal discipline, and alignment with national and regional priorities.

During the hearing, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Regional Office VIII reported that the ten SUCs in the region collectively submitted 284 PPAs for FY 2027 under the Public Investment Program (PIP) 2023–2028 through the PIPOL system. However, only 18 infrastructure PPAs were validated under the Three-Year Rolling Infrastructure Program (TRIP), a critical subset of the PIP. Notably, 11 of these 18 TRIP-validated infrastructure PPAs – or 61% – originated from SLSU, representing a total investment value of ₱3,696,292,476.00. This achievement firmly positions SLSU as a top-performing SUC in terms of infrastructure readiness and compliance with investment programming standards.

In his presentation, Mr. Omamalin detailed the University’s FY 2027 Tier 2 Budget Proposals, which comprise 14 programmatic proposals encompassing 52 sub-programs and projects, with a consolidated investment cost of ₱4,469,292,476.00. These proposals reflect a programmatic and integrated approach to infrastructure development, in compliance with the DBM–DEPDev Joint Circular No. 2025-01, which mandates clustering of projects into strategic programs with a minimum investment threshold.

Among the flagship proposals presented were the Strategic Physical Assets for Resilient Campus (S.P.A.R.C.) Program, the ENGINEER 5.0 Program, the SLSU–LEAD Program, and the Comprehensive Infrastructure Expansion and Educational Advancement Program (CIEEAP), among others. These initiatives collectively aim to address longstanding infrastructure gaps, enhance disaster resilience, expand digital and research capabilities, promote renewable energy adoption, and improve student welfare across all six campuses of the University.

SLSU’s strong validation performance is anchored on its strict adherence to national planning guidelines and its institutionalization of participatory planning mechanisms. Through its Localized Budgeting and Planning Forum, the University has adopted a whole-of-university approach, transforming planning into a collaborative and inclusive process that engages stakeholders at all levels. This has enabled the packaging of grassroots-informed, high-impact proposals that are responsive to both institutional and community needs.

The University also demonstrated remarkable progress in its validation rates. For FY 2027, 86% of its programmatic proposals are PIP-validated, while 79% are TRIP-validated, a significant improvement from previous years. In terms of investment value, 83% of the total proposed cost is validated under both PIP and TRIP, reflecting the robustness and readiness of SLSU’s project pipeline.

Further strengthening its case for funding, SLSU presented its strong fiscal performance, with an Obligations Budget Utilization Rate (BUR) of 96.9% and a Disbursement BUR of 95.7%, ranking among the top SUCs in the region. These figures demonstrate the University’s capacity to efficiently utilize public funds and deliver results.

SLSU also highlighted its compliance with critical implementation requirements, including the submission of complete implementation-readiness (IR) documents and ongoing processing of Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECCs) for all campuses. The University’s proposals have successfully passed multiple levels of review by the Regional Development Council (RDC) VIII, culminating in 100% endorsement under RDC VIII Resolution No. 05-D dated March 31, 2026.

In closing, SLSU reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive and resilient development. With a significant portion of its student population coming from Geographically Isolated, Disadvantaged, and Conflict-Affected Areas (GIDCAs), the University emphasized that these infrastructure investments are not merely capital projects but transformative interventions aimed at ensuring equitable access to quality education and strengthening community resilience.

The strong showing of SLSU during the FY 2027 Technical Budget Hearing reflects not only its technical preparedness and strategic vision but also its unwavering commitment to nation-building through education, innovation, and sustainable development.