BAGUIO CITY – The city General Services Office receives the biggest chunk of the P2.175 billion proposed 2019 annual budget of the local government with some P315.8 million funding next year.
Allocations for non-office came in second with P290.3 million followed by the city’s 20 percent local development fund amounting to P179.4 million and the City Engineer’s Office with a total budget of P174.7 million.
The City Health Services Office receives some P166.3 million budget next year followed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod or the City Council with a proposed budget of P117.2 million.
More than P98.1 million will be set aside for the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) while the 6 percent City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund will be provided some P91.6 million.
Further, the City Mayor’s Office will be allocated some P85.1 million, City Teasurer’s Office – P80.6 million, City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) – P67.1 million, Department of Education – Division of City Schools – P57.7 million, City Social Welfare and Development Office – P52.7 million, City Administrator’s Office – P52.3 million; City Veterinary Office – P43.8 million, City Budget Office – P31.6 million, City Human Resource Management Office – P28.1 million; Bureau of Fire Protection – P27.7 million, Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) – P27.3 million, City Assessor’s Office – P24.8 million, City Accounting Office – P23.1 million, City Planning and Development Office – P20.7 million, City Legal Office – P20.3 million, Local Civil Registry Office – P15.5 million, Closed Circuit Television project – P15 million, assistance to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) – P12.6 million, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office – P11.3 million, City Library _ P8.9 million, Computerization Program – P7.9 million, Regional Trial Court – P6.3 million, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology – Male Dormitory – P5.5 million, City Prosecutor’s Office – P5.1 million, Municipal Trial Courts – P3.1 million, Administrative Order No. 504 Clearing Committee and land titling – P2.1 million, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology – Female Dormitory – P2.1 million, Commission on Audit – P1.5 million, Public Attorney’s Office – P600,000 and Parole and Probations Office – P250,000.
The local government envisions a progressive, peaceful, clean and green Baguio as a center for education, trade and family-oriented tourism, managed by God-loving and strong-willed leaders in partnership with self-reliant and disciplined citizenry.
The local legislative body started the deliberations of the proposed annual budget last Monday and will be continuing the committee and plenary deliberations on November 12 and 19 prior to its approval probably by the end of this year to prevent the local government from operating with a re-enacted budget next year.
Local legislators were assigned the budgets of each of the departments for committee hearings for recommendations to be submitted for discussion en banc prior to the approval of the budget of the local government next year.
By Dexter A. See
Banner photo by ARMANDO M. BOLISLIS