LGUs get highest share from supplemental budget

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu provincial government has set aside another P25 million funds as financial assistance and subsidy to the local government units and institutions.

The amount was the largest chunk of the fifth supplemental budget totaling to P127 million approved by the Provincial Board during its regular session on Monday.

It was covered under the Office of the Governor, which got the highest share from the approved budget at P42.9 million intended for augmentation of the current year’s appropriations.

The financial assistance will be given to the LGUs which sought assistance from the Capitol.

Last month, the Provincial Development Council also approved the province’s P500-million Annual Investment Plan, at least P103 million of which was also intended as financial assistance and subsidy to the LGUs.

Based on the copy of the fifth supplemental budget, a total of P1.4 million was also earmarked by the Office of the Governor for the information technology equipment and software, P8 million for tanods’ allowances, and P6 million as subsidy to volunteer frontline workers, among others.

The Provincial Treasurer’s Office ranked second to the Governor’s Office with an appropriation of P30 million for the payment of prior years’ transactions for outsource services and PhilHealth.

The province also allocated P23.2 million in the supplemental budget for the construction and rehabilitation of roads, bridges, and “other structures” amounting to P12.8 million; rehabilitation and maintenance of Cebu Cultural Center at P2.5 million; slaughter house equipment and animal health facilities at P6.3 million; environmental enhancement and solid waste program at P600, 000; and livestock dispersal and development program at P900,000.

Other allocations would also be poured to the Office of the Vice Governor at P1.5 million intended as subsidy to LGUs, Provincial Board at P1.7 million also for subsidy to LGUs, Provincial Administrator at P14.2 million, Provincial General Services Office at P4.2 million for maintenance of motor vehicles and structures and janitorial services program, and Provincial Health Office at P1.5 million for assistance to barangay officials and volunteer workers.

The Provincial Planning and Development Office also received P400,000 for office equipment; Provincial Assessor’s Office with P650,000 also for office equipment; and Provincial Accountant with P644,000 for wages, contributions, incentives, wages and allowances.

The supplemental budget was sourced from the province’s general fund-proper at P97.7 million, unused portion of appropriations for development projects and activities (P23.2 million), and operation of province-run hospitals (P6.3 million). —/NSA (FREEMAN)