2015 budget higher than 2014 by 15%

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III submitted yesterday afternoon to the Provincial Board the province’s P3-billion executive budget for 2015.

The 2015 budget which is 15.6 percent more than this year’s P2.59 billion will now be deliberated upon and approved by the PB.

If approved without cuts, the Office of the Governor will get the lion’s share at P587.5 million, which is P146.8 million higher than this year’s P440.7 million.

“The Office of the Governor really requires that kind of budget because you know how the Office of the Governor operates, so many things to attend to, so many request for financial assistance. Di gyod na nimo kalikayan,” Davide explained.

The Annual Investment Plan followed at P462.6 million, up P55.6 million from this year’s P407 million.

This as Cebu Province’s Internal Revenue Allotment share for 2015 was higher from this year’s P2.022 billion to P2.3 billion, said Provincial Budget Officer Danilo Rodas.

Formulation of the AIP, which reflects the priorities of the administration, is mandated under Republic Act 7160 (Local Government Code of 1991). This provides that at least 20 percent of a local government unit’s IRA share should be set aside for it.

More than half of the AIP for next year would go to infrastructure projects with P246 million allocated for the repair, rehabilitation, and construction of roads, bridges and other structures.

Specifically, P86 million will go to the construction and repair of provincial, city, and municipal roads, bridges, and other structures, while P50 million is intended for farm-to-market roads, and  P110 million would be for loan payment for the heavy equipment.

Next to the Governor’s Office, the Provincial Health Office gets the biggest chunk of the budget at P409.3 million, which is 7.8 percent higher than this year’s P379.7 million.

This does not include the operation of 16 provincial and district hospitals pegged at P297.6 million, slightly higher compared to this year’s P294.8 million.

Davide identified the health sector as one of the top priorities under his administration. He said the allocation would fund the acquisition of medical equipment and improvement of province-owned hospitals, as well as engaging with more medical consultants.  (FREEMAN)