MANKAYAN, Benguet – The municipal government will operate on a budget of P159 million in 2021 to help sustain the enhanced delivery of basic services to the residents living in the town’s 12 barangays and continue the implementation of high-impact development projects in various communities.
Mayor Frenzel A. Ayong reported that the municipal government’s budget next year is much higher than the P140 million current budget of the municipality this year amidst the ongoing global health pandemic.
He disclosed that the municipal government had substantial savings from unused appropriations for training and a number of services this year that are being forwarded to next year as part of the balance of the 2021 budget thus significantly increasing funds for improved delivery of basic services and the implementation of the proposed high-impact projects.
The municipal chief executive further said that the proposed 2021 budget is still undergoing the required deliberations with the municipal council headed by Vice Mayor Joseph Denver Tongacan prior to its approval before being subject to a review by the provincial board.
According to him, part of next year’s budget, particularly a portion of the 20 percent local development funds, will be used to continue the unfinished phases of the 7 large multipurpose and evacuation centers and 2 small ones previously identified for the completion.
Mayor Ayong stipulated that aside from the local sources of funds for the development projects in the different barangays, efforts are being exerted to coordinate with concerned government agencies, the provincial government and the office of Benguet Caretaker Congressman and Anti-Crime and Terrorism through Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Party-list Rep, Eric Go Yap for funds to implement unfunded big-ticket projects that will help further improve the status of the municipality.
He pointed out that his administration will work on the establishment of solid networks with public and private sector partners to provide a variety of initiatives for funding of programs, projects and activities to develop the countryside to entice people to stay there and pursue their productive economic activities.
The municipal mayor underscored that countryside development is one of the key factors in preventing people from the rural areas to migrate to urban centers and contribute to the worsening problems of urbanization, thus, the municipal government is heavily investing on rural improvement projects to keep people in their communities and provide productive economic activities vital to rural development.
Mankayan is one of the five first class municipalities and one of the three towns that heavily rely on its share from large-scale mining operations to boost its internally generated resources for the benefit of the greater welfare of the people. By HENT
