BAGUIO CITY – The City Council requested the members of the local finance committee to appear before its regular session On November 7, 2016, to check on the possibility of increasing the income estimates to increase the proposed P1.76 billion 2017 annual budget of the city.
The members of the local legislative body want to inquire from the city’s finance officers if it is still possible to increase the income estimates as has been done in the past to increase the 2017 proposed budget.
Under the proposed budget next year that was submitted to the council for deliberation, the sources of income to support the said budget will come from the beginning balance that was pegged at P230 million, tax revenue – P418.95 million, non-tax revenue – P248.71 million and external resources – P868.55 million.
The council wants to check on the possibility of increasing the city’s budget before the various committees conduct the necessary hearings on the proposed budget before its approval probably before the end of the year.
The proposed expenditures of the annual budget will be personal services – P649 million, maintenance and other operating expenditures – P714.46 million, capital outlay – P402.71 million, non-office expenditures – P118.72 million, disaster risk reduction and management fund – P76.81 million and development fund – P198.81 million.
In his budget message, Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan said the local government has substantially committed funds for programs, projects, and activities in accordance with his administration’s thrusts spread across three major sectors, namely, economic, general and social services.
He added the city has provided for the second tranche implementation of the Salary Standardization Law and while there are gaps in the manpower requirements of the departments considering their mandates, the creation of necessary positions have been considered,one of which is the Traffic and Transportation Division of the City Engineer’s Office.
Domogan claimed the amounts allocated for each department are only for necessary expenses and the local government has adopted austerity measures to cut cost without compromising efficient and effective delivery of services.
To conserve power, he revealed energy saving materials and devices are proposed for purchase and for building the capacityof the city’s workforce, priority has been given to their skills-enhancement training.
On the other hand, he said the local government earmarked amounts for the construction of buildings for some offices such as the City Buildings and Architecture, Civil Registry, City Engineer’s, Division of City Schools and improvement of health centers to improve working conditions for increased productivity of the workforce and for better service delivery. The purchase of units of heavy equipment for the City Engineer’s Office and City Environment and Parks Management Office is necessary to equip them for road construction and maintenance, tree cutting activities and for use during natural and man-made calamities.
By Dexter A. See
