TADIAN, Mountain Province – The municipal government projected its annual budget next year to be around P150 million to sustain the implementation of programs, projects and activities and enhance the delivery of basic services to the increasing population. Mayor Constito Masweng said that next year’s projected budget is around 15 percent higher compared to the P130 million appropriations of the local government this year.
Tadian is a fourth class municipality in western Mountain Province that heavily relies on its national tax allocation from the government to serve as the main source of funds to provide for the town’s annual budget.
Earlier, the local government had an initial budget hearing among the department heads and members of the local legislative body to discuss the priority programs, projects and activities that will be funded by the limited allocations provided for next year.
Mayor Masweng claimed that as one of the strategies of the local government to ensure funding for its big ticket projects, collaboration is being done with the national government agencies and offices of lawmakers and the office of the President to provide support even through multi-year appropriations funds that will guarantee the start and completion of the town’s local development initiatives.
According to him, among the priority initiatives of the local government are the establishment of a government center in an identified government property, the upgrading of its slaughterhouse and the put up of other facilities that will contribute in spurring growth and development in the municipality.
The local government is awaiting the reclassification that wil be done by the national government that will hopefully improve the status of the municipality so that it will get a higher share from the annual national tax allocation being provided in the annual budget.
The local chief executive expressed hope that the municipal council will approve the proposed annual budget of the local government early so that it would be submitted to the provincial board and the department of budget and management for timely review and to guarantee the implementation of funded initiatives prior to the implementation of the election ban in time for the May 12, 2025 mid-term elections next year.
Under the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (RA) 7160 or the Local Government Code, local legislative bodies are supposed to approve the annual budgets of the concerned local governments on or before December 31 every year. If the budget will not be approved on time, the concerned local government will be operating on a re-enacted budget and the local legislative body is given 90 days to approve the same or else the said locality will be operating in a reenacted budget.
Masweng expressed his gratitude to the people and official dome of the municipality for their support and trust to the present administration of the municipality over the past several years that ensured the sustainable implementation of programs, projects and activities for the welfare of the greater majority of the populace. By Dexter A. See
