Board to prioritize social services, health in 2012 budget

Monday, November 14, 2011

THE Provincial Board of Misamis Oriental will reportedly prioritize the budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) social services, infrastructure, health and education in today’s (Tuesday) deliberation of the 2012 provincial budget at the board’s session hall.

Provincial Board Member Jesus M. Jardin, chairperson of the board’s committee on finance, said he expects the budget hearing will be more “constructive for good projects and programs” since it would be open to the public.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

Jardin said budgets like health and infrastructure should not be decreased.

“These programs are necessary in providing social services to the people,” he said, citing that health, infrastructure, education and DSWD programs are important especially to the poor.

Vice Governor Norris Babiera hoped there will be no budget cut for hospitals, infrastructures especially on provincial road maintenance, medicines, poverty alleviation programs and agriculture, while the executive budget as proposed will also be maintained.

“I hope it would not be affected,” Babiera said, citing the budget for 2012 will be judiciously discussed and be completed this month for budget review.

He also hoped the 2012 budget would not experience the same controversy with the 2011 budget where two proposals were submitted. (Micheal Andrew W. Yu)