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The
Sangguniang Panlalawigan has approved the proposed 2008 annual
budget worth PhP886,663,537 during the session Monday, Vice-Gov.
Julius Caesar Herrera said.
Herrera
took the floor and gave to senior board member Cesar Tomas
Lopez to preside and render the report of the appropriations
committee he chaired. He said the budget was approved during
the second reading after the budget hearings to make adjustments,
without cuts, as proposed by the governor's office.
Gov.
Erico Aumentado, in his message, said that the annual budget
is aimed at providing people access to all basic needs and
services.
He
also pointed out that the provincial government also tries
to improve the organizational and human resource capabilities
and the investment and environment climate and increase agricultural
productivity.
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Enhancing
tax collection, tax rates upgrading and upgrading hospital
fees/charges and revenue generation are among the priorities
of the budget, he added.
There
was an increase of PhP93,093,497 from 2007 budget in
the total amount of PhP793,570,040.
Based
on the committee report, the province has noted a beginning
balance in the amount of P16,269,692, which may be treated
as surplus of fiscal year 2007.
The
annual budget is mainly based on Internal Revenue Allotment
(IRA) in the amount of P800,423,845; total tax/revenue,
P27,160,000; non-tax revenue, P30,660,000; and other
receipts, P12,150,000. Hence, the Provincial Government
is largely relying on its share of IRA from the national
government, which about 90% of the total budget.
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Herrera
said that several adjustments were made in certain offices
and hospitals, including
the increase of subsistence allowance from P30 to P50 per
day for patients.
As
usual, the personnel services (salaries, wages) got the lion's
share in the total amount of PhP374,142,453, higher than this
year's PhP355,394,042 or 44.78%.
To
keep the provincial operations sustained, the maintenance
and other operating expenses (MOOE) is pegged at PhP212,002,889,
much higher than PhP170,359,340 for 2007 or 21.47%.
Capital
Outlay, which has an allocation of PhP12,166,000 (for 2007),
is decreased to PhP10,434,000. The proposed Non-Office allocation
is hiked to PhP24,000,000 from PhP21,500,000.
Included
in the proposed budget are the budgetary requirements, such
as the 20% Development Fund, 5% Reserve Fund (Calamity) and
Aid to the Barangays in the amounts of PhPP160,084,769; PhP43,519,692;
and PhP5,545,000, respectively.
There
is a hefty increase of the 20% Development Fund in the amount
of PhPP160,084,769 from this year's PhP145,750,000. This fund
is taken from the share of Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).
Gender
and Development (GAD) also got a slight increase in the amount
of P29,207,740 from PhP29,026,440 while Inter-Government aid
had PhP5,487,606; Other Special Purpose, PhP5,460,000; and
unremitted payable to Bohol Light Company, P5,460,000.
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