PB okays P3B 2015 budget

CEBU, Philippines - In its last session for the year, the Cebu Provincial Board yesterday approved in mass motion the 2015 executive budget of over P3 billion.

Board Member Grecilda Sanchez, chairwoman of the committee on budget and appropriations, presented the proposed ordinance authorizing the appropriation of P3,000,4666,000 of the general fund for fiscal year 2015 which was set for second and third reading.

There were 13 members of the board present including Vice Go-vernor Agnes Magpale and all approved the proposed ordinance.

The approved budget for 2015 is 15.6 percent or P404,504,000 higher than this year’s budget which is at P2,595,962,000.

The Governor’s office will get the biggest budget of P587,556,000, which is 33.3 percent higher than this year’s P440,756,000. Governor Hilario Davide III has earlier explained that his office needs the biggest budget since a number of allocations for programs and assistance to local government units would be coming from his office.

The P462.6 million for the Annual Investment Plan was also part of the P3 billion budget which would mostly cover the infrastructure projects including the repair, rehabilitation and construction of roads and bridges, as well as other priorities of the administration.

Last year the AIP allocation was at P407 million, however it was expected to go up following the increase of the Internal Revenue Allotment this year.   Based on Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code, at least 20 percent of an LGU’s IRA should be set aside for the AIP.

The Provincial Health Office also has one of the biggest allocations for next year with P409.3 million, an increase of 7.8 percent from this year’s P379.7 million. Even before he took oath as governor in May 2013, Davide already stressed that one of his administration’s priorities would be improving the health services in the province.

The office of the vice governor will get P56.8 million while the Provincial Board will get P146.7 million. Other offices which would have a considerable increase in allocation for 2015 includes the Provincial Administrator’s Office which budget is at P135.1 million from this year’s P52 million; Provincial General Services Office from P111 million to 138 million; Provincial Agriculturist from P43 million to P64 million; Provincial Planning and Development from P28.6 million to P36.9 million and the Provincial Legal Officer from P9.4 million to P16.6 million. 

The 24.2 percent increase for the budget for the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center was also part of the approved budget which rose from P70.7 million this year to P87.8 million next year.

The Provincial Board earlier pointed out to the management of CPDRC that with the increase in the allocation of the budget for the facility, the improvements should be made including the repair of its closed circuit television cameras and a watchtower which has been damaged.

Other offices that would have a slight increase in its budget includes the Provincial Budget Office with P9.4 million; Provincial Treasurer’s Office with P76 million; Provincial Assessor with P19.1 million; Provincial Information Office with P17.7 million; Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office with P84 million; Provincial Veterinarian with P25 million; Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office with P14 million; the Provincial Cooperative Office with P3.2 million and the Secretary to the PB with P8.6 million.

A budget of P61.6 million will also go to the operation of the Cebu South Bus Terminal while the rest will be for the hospitals in the province.  —/BRP (FREEMAN)