Saturday, November 17, 2007 City Hall aligns budget for debts By Lizanilla J. Amarga
PAYING for Cagayan de Oro's P1 billion debts is given higher priority in the Proposed Executive Annual Budget Ordinance for 2008 over the budget for Health, Nutrition and Population.
At the budget hearing Saturday, City Councilor Dr. Dante Pajo, the chairman of the committee on health and social services, will be given the floor to discuss the city's health and social welfare status.
The Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) hospital administrator Dr. Evelyn Clarete earlier has issued statements that their regional hospital's clients are mostly from Cagayan de Oro city.
City residents who availed of the services at the NMMC said they would rather go to NMMC as the City Hospital lack the facilities and medicines that they need.
Despite these health issues, Mayor Constantino Jaraula is giving 15 percent or P195.2 million of the total P1.3 billion 2008 budget to paying off City Hall's debts and other liabilities.
"This is well within the codal limitation of 20 percent," his Proposed Executive Annual Budget Ordinance 2008 reads.
