The News Today Online

Guv seeks P8M more as Capitol budget reaches P933M

By Florence F. Hibionada

About a month after the Iloilo Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) gave its nod on the over P13 million more in Capitol funds, over P8 million is asked anew for the operation of the Iloilo Provincial Government.

With the last quarter of this year nearing its close, the latest supplemental budget as sought will bring to over P933 million the Capitol’s current budget expense.

This, as Governor Niel Tupas made official his request for the SP approval, the bulk of the source of funds - the P6 million in local taxes generated from the sale of acquired real properties and sale of the Capitol’s fixed assets.  The over P2 million as duly certified by the Provincial Treasurer as available for appropriation will come from the excess of collections of transfer taxes, sand and gravel taxes and certification fees.

Supplemental Budget No. 4 totals P8,045,382 where over P2.7 million of it will cover the 'donations' for the day care workers, barangay health workers and barangay service point officers.  It will also see P1.5 million in 'equipment outlay' for the Governor’s Office and a P2.8 million allocation for the Don Valerio Palmares Memorial Hospital set to be used for its purchase of an anesthesia machine.

The Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC) will also get P83,000 for its computer equipment alongside a hospital equipment for the Ricardo Provido Memorial Hospital valued P450,000.

Supplemental Budget No. 4 comes at the helm of the questions surrounding Supplemental Budget No. 3.  As presented before the SP body for deliberation and ultimate approval then, the Governor’s son,  Fifth District Board Member Niel Tupas Jr. averred that the amount as sought is 'reasonable and the same is necessary for the operation of the Provincial Government and for the effective delivery of basic services.'

To recall, Supplemental Budget No. 3 had over P1.9 million in general services for the Governor’s Office, P1.8 million additional donations and the P1.9 million for the purchase of new 'homemade' police vehicles.

The Iloilo Provincial Government operated with an initial Executive Budget of over P814 million, followed by Supplemental Budget No. 1 of over P49.3 million, Supplemental Budget No. 2 of over P48.6 million, Supplemental Budget No. 3 of over P13 million and the latest, Supplemental Budget No. 4 of over P8 million.