P856M '06 Capitol budget up
The Iloilo Provincial Government will work on an Executive Budget of over P856 million for next year, some P42 million more than this year’s initial budget allocation.
With non-office expenditure of over P196 million getting the bulk of said amount, the Provincial Engineers’ Office (PEO) stand to receive the biggest budget amongst all other departments. At over P77 million in personal services and maintenance and other operating expenses, the PEO tops the list followed by the General Services Office (GSO) with over P49 million allocation for their one-year operation.
Governor Niel Tupas,Sr. in justifying the forthcoming budget began his “Budget Message” with a statement attributed to the political scenario that has beset the nation.
“We are prepared to deal with the aftermath of the presidential impeachment attempts,” he said. “The psychological toll will continue to reverberate through the people’s psyches for a year or more thus challenging our abilities to make rational decisions.”
The Governor then went on to state how in his second term of office, focus will still be aimed at the achievement of his 9-point Executive Agenda “challenged” vis-a-vis by the 10-key goal of the Arroyo Administration.
As such, Tupas wrote of his topmost development priority – the purchase of P100 million worth of road engineering equipment. To this he added, “for I see the need to improve the network of our farm to market roads and bridges as vital supports to the improvement of the agriculture sector.”
And “hopefully,” the Governor said, the new Iloilo Airport of international standards will be near completion. “Hopefully” as well, the province will adopt the 15-year solid waste management plan just as he “expects” to have the new Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC) operational.
And for a more productive Ilonggo, Governor Tupas decided to pursue his pet project MYRNA, a skills development training program for out-of-school youths inspired by the name of his wife of the same project name.
With over P856 million in Executive Budget, improvement of basic health nutrition and welfare services are likewise promised. Similar vow on the education sector where “rational employment” is stated and the assistance to the upgrading of teachers’ proficiency in English, Mathematics and Science.
There will also be corresponding look to be done inside the Capitol in a review set to be done on the personnel staffing and capabilities of every departments.
Such on top of the Governor’s statement for “more judicious” spending.
“In this present fiscal crises, we need to put our resources in the most appropriate and rational investment and made our spendings more judicious. We have to learn or know our weaknesses and strengths, our potentials and challenges then be able to identify the most suitable strategies and determine our priority needs,” he said.
Other departments getting significant shares in next year’s P856 million is the Iloilo Provincial Hospital with over P43 million allotted and the Provincial Health Office at over P38 million.
The Legislative Department comprised of the Vice-Governor’s Office, ten board members and three ex-officio members alongside the Secretariat will work on a P38 million budget alongside the Governor’s Office with a budget placed at P33 million.