Manila’s P9.8-B budget approved

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno and members of the city council on Tuesday approved the city’s P9.8 billion budget for 2014.

In a phone interview, Moreno said the budget was approved by the city council without questions, owing to the close coordination between Mayor Joseph Estrada and the city councilors.

Moreno said Estrada and the councilors also signed a resolution seeking a review of the tax code of Manila.

“What Mayor (Alfredo) Lim failed to do in 20 years was done by Mayor Estrada in five months. We brought to a manageable level the rate of taxes to be paid by Manilans. We are hopeful that it will boost our tax collection to be able to address the city government’s P3.5 billion budget deficit,” he said.