Cebu Province registers higher income last year

CEBU, Philippines - The province earned P391 million in 2013, almost P60 million higher than what it logged two years ago, according to a report released by the Capitol’s website www.cebu.gov.ph.

Acting provincial treasurer Emmanuel Guial said in the same report that last year’s local income is higher than 2012’s P335 million.

Guial said the total figure includes earnings from local taxes, operating and miscellaneous revenues and from Capitol’s economic enterprise.

Including its Internal Revenue Allotment, Capitol’s income reached P2.2 billion, excluding the P71.9 million special education fund and the P97.1 million trust fund.

Guial attributed last year’s increase of local revenues to the additional income generated from Larsian, a barbecue center near Fuente Osmeña, which expanded last year. He said Larsian’s total revenue in 2013 alone was pegged at P6.1 million.

The provincial officer also said the mining operations (sand and gravel and quarry activities) also contributed to this increase.  He said the strict monitoring of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office and the Civil Security Unit of the Provincial Revenue Code have helped in this development.

Even district hospitals have also given considerable revenues to Cebu’s coffers, he said.

Last year, district hospitals generated P145.5 million for the province, up from P92 million registered for 2012. —/JMD (FREEMAN)