Guv submits P2.6B 2014 budget

CEBU, Philippines - Governor Hilario Davide III has submitted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan the P2.6 billion proposed 2014 budget hitting the October 16 deadline set by law despite the disorder of Capitol offices in the aftermath of earthquake.

Davide said that he signed the executive budget Wednesday and it was submitted in the afternoon as confirmed by SP Secretary, lawyer Aniceta Pasaylo.

“Ang importante it was submitted on time,” Pasaylo told The Freeman.

Pasaylo said that the documents will be considered for first reading before the Provincial Board on Monday’s session by referring it to the committee on budget and appropriations chaired by Board Member Grecilda Sanchez.

The 2014 proposed budget is less by P1 billion compared to the P3.6 billion submitted by then governor and now third district Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia for this year.

David earlier said that a lower budget is expected next year as he wants to have a realistic budget while the one submitted by Garcia last year was bloated.

Of the P3.6 billion submitted by Garcia, only P3.26 billion was approved by PB early this year while she was serving her six months suspension.  

Davide has yet to give details of the itemized appropriations of his proposed executive budget but his priority development projects are already stipulated in the Annual Investment Plan.

Last week, the Provincial Development Council has approved the P407 million worth of development projects and activities under the AIP for 2014 which forms part of the submitted proposed annual budget.

The road, bridge, highway construction and rehabilitation program got the biggest chunk of the AIP amounting to P113 million.

These include the farm-to-market roads; provincial, municipal and barangay roads; purchase of heavy equipments; and the planning and pre-implementation of the proposed Trans-axial Highway.

The second biggest chunk of the AIP went to the assistance and subsidy of the local government units, institutions, and capital expenditure projects and activities in the amount of P110.5 million.

The Office of the Governor got P65 million, Vice Governor got P8 million while each of the 15 members of the Provincial Board got P2.5 million.

The AIP also provided P73 million for hospital equipments; medical, dental and laboratory equipments; purchase of ambulances and emergency vehicles; and construction, repair, rehabilitation, upgrading of buildings and structures.

Other projects include water supply development, environment protection, and preservation of heritage structures, construction of women and children’s crisis center, eco-tourism development, maintenance of bus terminal, convention center, and cultural center; electrification, and food production, livelihood and entrepreneurship support program. (FREEMAN)