'Historical' Capitol spending as guv seeks nod on 'last-minute' P98M six-week budget
Over P98 million in additional government funds will be spent by the Iloilo Provincial Government in the next six weeks. Or so as sought by Governor Niel Tupas, Sr. making this year's executive budget and corresponding Capitol spending a historical first for Iloilo.
With over P1.092 billion in total funding on official record, the Governor's request is contained in Supplemental Budget No.3. As such, before the year ends the province should have more heavy equipment worth P30 million, the Office of the Governor have additional P1 million for gasoline allowance, nearly half a million in additional office supplies expense and the province's barangay workers over P20 million in "donated" Capitol funds.
Concerned Capitol employees will also get monetization of leave credits amounting to over P16.3 million while over P13.4 million in "development projects" will get extra Capitol boost.
The budget as sought has been duly certified as "available for appropriation" by Provincial Treasurer Melba Sullivan, the funds taken from the province's internal revenue allotment, reported "excess income" of P13 million from hospitals and revenue collection.
Other planned "last-minute" expenditures as identified by Tupas include P2.3 million in more "donations", P700,000 for additional "Representation allowance", and P1.2 million in "general services" or wages for yet more last-minute jobs under the Office of the Governor.
Rabies vaccine will also have P500,000 in additional last-stretch Capitol funding and over P5 million in various expenses for the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC) operation.
To recall, the Province began with a "modest" P856 budget followed by supplemental budgets of over P73 million and the P65 million.