LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The municipal council approved an appropriation ordinance that earmarked more than P627.3 million as the annual budget of the municipal government for 2022 to sustain the enhanced delivery of quality basic services and implement high impact projects beneficial to the welfare of the greater majority of the populace.
Under Appropriation Ordinance No. 04-2021, the annual performance budget of the municipal government is around P573.02 million while the programmed budget for its economic enterprise include some P41.5 million for the operation of the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post and P12.79 million for the operation of the Strawberry Valley Hotel.
Among the focus of the expenditures of the approved annual budget of the municipality include P300.1 million for general public services, P112.5 million for social services, P88 million for the 20 percent municipal development fund, P43.36 million for economic services and P31 million for the prescribed 5 percent local disaster risk reduction and management fund.
Vice Mayor Roderick Awingan disclosed that the annual budget of the local government complied with the budgetary requirements and general limitations provided under the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (RA) 7160 or the Local Government Code as amended.
However, the appropriation ordinance provided that specific municipal council approval shall be required for the authorization of the disbursement of such lump sum appropriations as defined.
Further, priority in the use of personal services savings shall be given to personnel benefits of local government employees in the use of the same.
The appropriation ordinance shall take effect pursuant to the pertinent provisions of the Local Government code.
If the council will not be able to approve the proposed annual budget before the end of the year, the local legislative body is given at least 90 days within the succeeding year to approve the same or else the local government will be operating on a re-enacted budget once there will be a deadlock in the approval of the budget of the local chief executive.
Awingan assured residents of the municipality that the approved annual budget of the local government will help in effectively and efficiently address the important concerns that are being brought to the attention of the concerned offices.
La Trinidad is being readied to become a component city of Benguet based on the legislations that had been filed by Benguet caretaker congressman and Anti-Crime and Terrorism through Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Party-list Rep. Eric Yap with the House of Representatives after the capital town was able to pass the 2 major requirements such as in terms of population and income.
However, the municipality lacks the minimum requirement of 10,000 hectares to be converted as a city although it has more than 8,000 hectares with some existing boundary disputes with neighboring towns that might address the lacking requirement in the future once the same shall have been resolved in favor of La Trinidad which is just adjacent Baguio City being the country’s undisputed Summer Capital. By HENT
