Saturday, December 29, 2007 Barangay projects get almost half of budget By Oscar C. Pineda Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THE Mandaue City Council passed its first Annual Investment Plan (AIP) without making any deductions in the mayor’s original proposal.
There was, however, a minor realignment of funds, so that 45 percent of the total amount is now going to barangay projects, instead of the original 51 percent.
In their special session last Dec. 27, councilors adopted the committee on appropriation, budget and finance’s recommendation to approve the P59.4-million AIP for 2008, which is P9.4 million more than the 2007 and 2006 AIPs.
Almost half of 2008’s AIP funds were earmarked for barangay projects, and the rest for office and other projects.
Councilor Emil Rosal, committee chairman, also reduced in his report Mayor Jonas Cortes’ proposed appropriation for the wastewater treatment facility of the New Public Market, from P10 million to P5 million.
He then added the P5 million to the item “other programs and projects,” which only had a P1-million appropriation.
Rosal included a provision that funds “shall be used or disbursed only through the corresponding enabling resolution” of the City Council.
Rosal said all other items remain the same: P27 million for barangay projects; P17.93 million for department and office projects; and P14.47 million for other projects.
City Planning and Development Coordinator Delia Rodrigo’s original AIP proposal allocated P30.1 million for barangay projects, or 51 percent of the total AIP funds.
What for
That included P11.855 million for improvement and rehabilitation of drainage systems and creeks in 15 barangays; P5 million as the City’s counterpart in the construction of five barangay halls; P40,000 for the installation of a culvert in Barangay Jagobiao; P200,000 for eight artesian wells in three barangays; P1.15 million for street lighting in different barangays; P6.865 million for concreting and asphalting of roads in nine barangays; road opening projects in Barangays Cambaro and Basak, P1.5 million; P750,000 for day care centers in Barangays Canduman and Casuntingan; P150,000 to rehabilitate stairs in Jagobiao; P90,000 for the materials recovery facility also in Jagobiao; and P2.5 million for the tax mapping maintenance in all 27 barangays.
The Local Government Code provides that the AIP be supported by 20 percent of the development fund or 20 percent of the Internal Revenue Allotment.
