THE Bacolod City Council has unanimously approved on third and final reading the P3.2-billion proposed annual budget for 2022 Wednesday, November 10, 2021, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who acted as presiding officer, said.
The annual budget for 2022 is higher by about P600 million, or at least 18 percent than this year’s budget of P2.6 billion.
Familiaran earlier said the increase of the city’s fund next year is because of the Mandanas Ruling issued by the Supreme Court.
Under that rule, the just share of local government units, also known as Internal Revenue Allotment, must be computed based on all national taxes and not just from National Internal Revenue Taxes.
Familiaran said prior to the approval of the budget, a committee hearing was conducted by Councilor Cindy Rojas, chairman of the city council’s committee on appropriation, budget and finance.
He noted that the 2022 proposed budget will prioritize health programs because of the pandemic.
The fund intended for infrastructure may be realigned to fund the city’s health programs, Familiaran said.
The vice mayor said all projects of Mayor Evelio Leonardia were based on what had been submitted by the barangays.