THE City Government of Bacolod is eyeing to reach the P3-billion annual budget for 2020.

Councilor Cindy Rojas, chairperson of the city council committee on appropriation and finance, said Wednesday, October 9, that they are trying to hit the P3-billion annual budget for 2020 and they will hold a hearing in the last week of October.

She said most of the department heads already submitted their budget proposals for 2020.

“We will deliberate this month or first week of November with the members of the City Council along with the department heads,” she added.

This year, Bacolod City has a total of P2.52 billion annual budget.

This year’s budget is 12 percent higher, or P270 million more than the budget in 2018. The 50 percent of the budget come from the Internal Revenue Allotment amounting to P1.26 billion and the local sources amounting to P1.258 billion.

The bulk of the budget, or P 1.33 billion, were allocated to the maintenance and other operating expenses; and P660 million to personnel services; P252 million to the development fund; P81.7 million to equipment expenses; P7.9 million for financial expenses; and P184 million for other purposes.

This year’s budget prioritizes health services, the solid waste management, social welfare services, public order and safety, anti-drug campaign as in line with the national thrust, improvement of traffic management, economic and infrastructure development, tourism and importantly, for education. (MAP)