QC Council approves P6.25-B budget

The Quezon City Council, headed by Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista, approved the other night the P6.25-billion budget of the city government for fiscal year 2006.

Council Majority Leader Ariel Inton said the speedy approval was made after lawyer Paquito Ochoa, head of the city government finance committee, was able to provide satisfactory answers to budget proposal questions raised by members of the council.

"The council made only slight adjustments because we are fully supportive to the development programs of Mayor Feliciano Belmonte," Inton said.

In an earlier message to the council, the mayor said the 2006 Income and Expenditure General Budget was crafted along the general principle that good and effective governance is best demonstrated and best felt "with programs and projects that emphasize basic and social services and directly impact on the living conditions within the city."

The budget is P439 million bigger than this year’s budget of P 5.82 billion, but will not exceed next year’s estimated revenue level.

Under the 2006 budget, attention is given on social welfare, education, health services and construction of school buildings, health centers and markets.

Also included is the construction of new roads, highways, bridges, flood control facilities, parks, artesian wells, reservoirs, pumping stations and other public structures. – Perseus Echeminada