DAVAO de Oro Governor Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga bared that there will be a 15 percent drop in the budget of the province in 2023.
Montejo-Gonzaga told members of the media on Wednesday, November 23, that the province and other local government units (LGUs) in the country received a lower share of the national tax allocation (NTA) for next year.
This is brought about by the application of the Mandanas Doctrine, which has a preceding three-year rule. Due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, there were low government revenues.
"Kabalo man ta nga nag-lockdown. So mao tanang opisina sa (That is why our offices in the) national, provincial, down to our barangays, reduced gyud ta (has a reduced share) by 14 to 15 percent," she added.
Montejo-Gonzaga said the exact budget for next year is still being finalized by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), but she estimated that the slashed budget is estimated to be at P353 million.
While this would pose a challenge under her administration, considering this is her first term as governor of the province, she however said that she would find ways for additional funding in her programs and projects.
“If there’s a will, there’s a way,” the governor said.
She also made sure that there would be ample funds for the Barangay Peace and Order Council (BPOC).
“I convinced SP nga di gyud pwede pababaan na BPOC as mao kini ang pinaka-crucial (not to lower the budget for the BPOC since it is the most crucial) period as far being an insurgency free is concerned,” Montejo-Gonzaga said.
She added, "Dako kaayo expectation sa tawo (There are high expectations from the public) considering they would ask kung unsa diay benefit ngano nag insurgency free ta (what are the benefits of being an insurgency free province).”
The Regional Peace and Order Council Davao Region (RPOC Davao) officially declared Davao de Oro and the rest of Davao Region as insurgency free on October 12, after years of battling against insurgents.
She also said that the province would have more scholars in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (Gida).
Aside from Davao de Oro, the provincial government of Davao del Norte also announced earlier that it will be slashing its 2023 budget too.
In a recent report, Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib mandated provincial offices to "tighten their belts" as there will be impending budget cuts next year after the province received a lower share from the NTA.
Jubahib said that there will be a 14.7 percent drop in the budget of the province in 2023, amounting to P500 million.
In order to help soften the impact of the budgetary cuts, he said the province will strengthen its tax administration and shore up its economic enterprises to increase revenues.
Jubahib earlier directed provincial offices to strictly observe austerity measures that include the reduction of the consumption of fuel, electricity, and other utilities.
The governor, however, remained bullish the province will still be able to fulfill its mandate in delivering basic services and pursuing socio-economic growth.