P823M 2016 budget proposed in Talisay

CEBU, Philippines – Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes has submitted his proposed 2016 annual budget in the amount of P823 million.

But the city council expressed that they still have to study the mayor's proposal.

City Councilor Edward Alesna, chairman of the Committee on Budget and Appropriations, said they are expected to trim down the amount of intelligence fund the mayor is asking.

Mayor JVR asked for P10 million in intelligence funds. Alesna said they could not yet determine how much from this amount will be greenlighted by the opposition dominated council.

The city council had been slashing the city mayor's intelligence fund, saying it was being used for other purposes.

Meanwhile, one of the items of the 2016 budget is the appropriation of P6 million in assistance for the Commission on Elections to be used in the May 2016 elections.

Some P11 million has been proposed for the peace and order.

Alesna, who said the next year's proposed budget is bigger than this year’s, said they will soon discuss the mayor's budget in a session. Earlier, the council approved the fifth supplemental budget intended for the bonuses of city hall employees.

He said they will scrutinize each of the items and  will invite the concerned department heads to defend or justify why they should approve the amounts.

However, Alesna could not tell when the annual budget will be actually approved.

A local government unit is given until March 2016 to approve its annual budget for next year.  (FREEMAN)