Bacolod's budget for 2009: P1.1 billion
BACOLOD CITY -- Sangguniang Panglungsod of Bacolod City recently approved P1.1 billion Annual Budget for 2009 after it was endorsed for third and final reading by Councilor Al Victor Espino Chairman of the Committee on Appropriation and Finance.
Said budget increased by almost P100 million compared to the 2008 Executive Budget that reached to almost P1 billion.
According to the Summary of Appropriation based on the request made by Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, the total appropriation for personal services reached to almost 44.53 percent or amounting to P490.9 million while the Maintenance and other operating expenses reached to only 11.76 percent or equivalent to P129.9 million.
City Councilor Espino said the capital outlay to be implemented next year reached to P210.4 million or P19.10 million and the non-office expenditures had a total amount of P233.03 million or equivalent to 21.19 percent. The Executive Budget was passed during the Special Session held at the New SP Session Hall in the New Government Center.
Espino said that he is very optimistic that the city will surpass last year's budget considering that this year, the Sangguniang Panglungsod passed the new revenue code that could give additional revenue to the city.
On the other hand, SP Member Jocelle Batapa-Sigue supports the passage of the Executive Budget for 2009 with some "collatilla" proposed.
Batapa-Sigue reminded the executive to give priority on the social services just like the gender and development program and the rehabilitation of the social development center. She also reiterated her concern to Mayor Leonardia to appropriate funds for the existing ordinance and other priority projects.
The Executive Budget for 2009 was approved by ten members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod and only two was out of session and two was on official leave.