QC council tackles P6.2-B budget for 2006

The Quezon City Council, headed by Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista will start deliberating today on the proposed P6.25-billion budget of the city government for fiscal year 2006.

Council Majority leader Ariel Inton said the proposed budget, which was submitted by Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., will be the main agenda of the city council when it resumes sessions today.

"We expect to finish our deliberations and approve the proposed measure before Christmas," Inton told The STAR.

Belmonte said the 2006 budget is P439 million bigger than this year’s allotment of P 5.820 billion, but will not exceed next year’s estimated revenue level.

The mayor said the proposed budget for personal services maintains the "no new hire" policy, but at the same time provides more benefits for local government employees.

The proposed budget prioritizes education, health services and construction of school buildings, health centers and markets. Also on top of the list is infrastructure, including development of new roads, highways, bridges, flood control facilities, parks, artesian wells, reservoirs and pumping stations.

Belmonte said basic services and infrastructure have a direct and positive impact on the lives and livelihood of the more than two million residents of the city, particularly the poor. — Perseus Echeminada