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Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Capitol seeks P931M budget
By Avelyn Z. Agudon
NEGROS Occidental Governor Joseph Marañon said Monday the Provincial Government's proposed budget for year 2005 reached P.9 billion, which is four percent of the 2004 Annual Budget.
The Provincial Board is yet to approve the proposed Executive Fund Annual Budget for 2005 totaling P931,213,440, said the governor.
Marañon stressed although the proposed budget slightly increased, it is still reflective of President Arroyo's call among local government units to implement austerity measures without, however, depriving constituents of the basic services and facilities they deserve.
The governor further said the budget was devised with strict adherence to the fiscal reforms needed to maximize resources to accomplish the province's goals and objectives.
Of the proposed budget, P370,280,823 was intended for various offices, P320,216,732 for non-office and P240,715,884 for economic enterprise that includes the budget for 11 district hospitals in the province.
In the summary of the proposed appropriation under the non-office expenses, the budget for environment program decreased from P3.4 million last year to P2.4 million.
This is despite the governor's earlier pronouncement to increase the appropriation by 200 percent following flashfloods in Luzon that killed close to a thousand people.
The support for the Task Force Ilahas (TFI) Program which is P500,000 is lower compared to the budget for the Provincial Choir at P600,000 and Physical Fitness Program, P750,000.
Percival Salado, provincial budget officer, said the budget for the TFI is not fixed unlike that of the Provincial Choir.
The proposed budget for the Clean and Green Program, on the other hand, is equal to that of last year's at P250,000; Bantay Dagat Program, P200,000; and Red Tide Management Program, P200,000.
The proposed intelligence fund is P200,000; five percent calamity fund, P44.5 million; 20 percent development fund, P171 million; and additional gender and development, P38.3 million.
Marañon said the programs and projects for this year are anchored on his 7-point agenda.
In food security, he said his leadership established and continued the implementation of the PhilRice Visayas Program.
In agri-industrial activity, agricultural output was increased due to the construction of additional farm-to-market roads and more provision of farm inputs, implements and equipment were provided.
Marañon said projects in basic and social services have been seriously thought of such as the new facilities in provincial hospitals and other hospitals operated by the Provincial Government and the opening of the Negros Occidental Center for Women and Children in Murcia town.
Construction and rehabilitation of school buildings, bridges and other projects were also implemented to address the point of essential infrastructure.
Marañon said safeguarding the natural resources, most especially the forest and marine population, was also reinforced last year to protect the environment.
(January 4, 2005 issue)
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