Board approves P1.6 billion budget

THE Provincial Board (PB) approved on Monday the proposed P1.6 billion budget of Misamis Oriental that the Provincial Government said would ensure delivery of basic services to many Misamisnons.

This year’s deliberations and approval of the province’s proposed P1.6 billion ran smoothly compared to the 2011 and 2012 annual budget deliberations.

Present during the approval were Vice Governor Norris C. Babiera, being the presiding officer, along with seven board members only composed of Jabi Bernaldez, Jesus Jardin, Emmanuel Mugot, Benedict Lagbas, Jimmy Caiña, Association of Barangay Councils president Arsenio Kho Jr. and Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president Geronimo Magna Z. Lagbas.

Babiera said the budget allocates bigger amount for the implementation of the province’s health services particularly Philhealth, followed by health services and infrastructures among other services.

Of the P1,642,265,819, P1,350,221,980 will be allocated to the General Fund, which will be divided to different offices of the provincial Capitol.

The remaining P292,043,839 will be for the Special Account, intended for the eight hospitals and for the needs of the Provincial Engineering Office.

The PB has no other agenda on Monday to give way for the long delayed approval of the 2013 annual budget.

“We’re thankful that it was finally approved,” Babiera told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.