Capitol’s proposed 2016 budget 21-percent higher

CEBU, Philippines - The Capitol’s executive department is proposing a 21.27-percent increase in Cebu Province’s 2016 budget.

Governor Hilario Davide III submitted to the Provincial Board Friday last week the proposed P3. 638 billion annual budget, which is P638 million more than this year’s P3. billion will now be deliberated upon and approved by the legislative body.

If approved without cuts, the Office of the Governor will get the lion’s share of the budget with P623 million, which is 35.44 percent higher than this year’s P460 million.

Davide III attributed the increase to the number of projects to be implemented under his administration.

“We still have projects that need funding. Daghan pa tang buhatonon,” he told reporters yesterday.

The second biggest allocation is that for the Annual Investment Plan at P520 million, which is 12.55 percent higher than this year’s P462 million.

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

Provincial Budget Officer Danilo Rodas said Cebu Province’s IRA share for 2016 increased from this year’s P2.3 billion to P2.5 billion.

As to the Provincial Health Office’s budget, it was allotted an increase of P24 million, or from P409 million to P433 million. The budget, however, does not include that for the operation of 16 provincial and district hospitals, which proposed a spending plan of P325.5 million, which is 9.6 percent higher than this year’s P297 million.

Davide identified health as one of the top priorities under his administration. He said the allocation would fund the improvement of province-owned health facilities and their equipment.  (FREEMAN)