ANGELES City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. said he will use a big portion of the City Government's surplus funds amounting to P192,961,702.95 on health and education programs.
He said budget surplus will be allocated for Supplemental Budget 1 for his health programs, such as the improvement of Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Center (RLMMC), also known as Ospital Ning Angeles (ONA).
Lazatin also vowed to transform Angeles City as the "most caring city."
Part of the surplus will be allocated for the improvement of schools in the city, he said.
He said funds will also be allocated for anti-drug programs, peace and order, infrastructure, and other projects, including livelihood programs for farmers, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and solo parents, social pension for elderly and solo parents, and feeding programs for undernourished children.
"I appeal to all of you to help and trust my administration. For I vow that I will lead this city to progress, where the marginalized, the middle class and rich can build a better future together," he said.
Lazatin said the local government obtained the surplus budget because of its sound fiscal management and Real Property Tax (RPT) collection efficiency.
This is the first time in 13 years that the City Government realized a budget surplus, according to Lazatin.
City Accountant Genoveva Dizon said the budget surplus is composed of P146,171,415.07 in the General Fund; P21,235,966.30 in the Appropriation and Utilization of the 20 percent of the Annual Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) for Development Projects; and P25,554,321.58 share from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).
City Treasurer Juliet Quinsaat said the City's total revenue increase by 10.86 percent, from P2,067,684,939.68 in 2018 to P2,292,170,100.52 in 2019.
Lazatin said business tax collections reached P243,015,041.80 for the month of July to December 2019. Some P167,656,687.36 were collected in the same period in 2018, with a 44.95 percent increase.
"This is part of our aim to provide a responsive government for all the sectors of society. We are happy that such increase in collections was recorded despite our pronouncement that my administration will not increase taxes," he added.
The city's tax collection increased to 17.94 percent or P1,000,977,091.66 in 2019 compared to P848,751,800.68 in 2018.
For the RPT alone, a 5.66 percent increase was recorded from the P226,093,630.47 collection in 2019 compared to P213,988,131.89 for the same period in 2018.
The mayor also assured that his administration will remain business-friendly.
Lazatin lauded City Hall employees for their contribution to the high revenues of the local government.
The mayor said his administration is keen on motivating the local government workers by providing them due perks.
Upon the mayor's request, the City Council last December approved Supplemental Budget 5, releasing of P9.1 million for the Service Recognition Incentive of some 1,308 permanent, casual, and contractual employees amounting to P7,000 each.
Apart from this, the workers also received their P3,000 Collective Negotiation Agreement bonus.