BAGUIO CITY – The local legislative body unanimously approved the P2.179 billion proposed 2019 budget of the local government during a 12-hour special session on Thursday to prevent the implementation of a re-enacted budget of the city next year.
Local legislators agreed to approved the city’s annual budget to prevent serious repercussions on the operations of the local government and to solidify its position as one of the contenders for the top performing local legislative body this year.
However, the local legislative body imposed as condition for the approval that all detailed plans of high impact projects of the local government and contracts relative to the aforesaid projects shall be submitted for confirmation to ensure check and balance in the prosecution of the funded projects.
Earlier, Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan transmitted to the local legislative body the P2.175 billion proposed annual budget of the city next year but the same was returned for possible adjustment.
The local chief executive returned to the local legislative body the adjusted P2.179 billion annual budget of the city next year which was acted upon during the marathon hearing that was conducted for the purpose of passing the budget before the end of the year.
The expenditures incorporated in the budget will be for personal services which amount to P808,805,000 inclusive of the provision for the 4th tranche of the government’s salary standardization in the amount of P39,672,996.00 which account for 37 percent of the annual budget.
According to him, a total of P598,447,000 is earmarked for capital outlay expenditures including the development projects sourced out from the city’s 20 percent development fund amounting to P179,474,000 wherein part of the appropriation contain amounts for the upgrade of various equipment for the city’s frontline services to include purchase of dump trucks for garbage collection.
The 2019 annual budget of the local government will be sourced from the beginning balance amounting to P343,000,000 or 16 percent of the total budget; local internal sources, particularly tax revenue – P477,903,509 or 22 percent, non-tax revenue – P311,390,000 or 14 percent; external sources, particularly share from internal revenue allotment – 829,206,491 or 38 percent, share from economic zones – P210,000,000 or 10 percent and share from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) – P4 million.
The approved appropriation ordinance will be transmitted to the City Mayor for his signature before it will be transmitted to the regional office of the budget department for review.
Under the provisions of the Local Government code, the local chief executive should transmitted to the local legislative body the proposed annual budget of the local government by the middle of October every year and the same is expected to be enacted before the end of the calendar year.
If the deliberations will be extended up to the next calendar year, the local legislative body is barred from discussing other matters except the budget until such time that the same will be enacted within a limited period of 90 days.
By Dexter A. See
Banner photo by Meryl Perez
