City Government readies 2016 budget

THE 2016 executive budget of Zamboanga City is expected to reach more than P2 billion and higher than the budget this year.

Zamboanga City’s Finance Committee started Tuesday the marathon technical hearings in preparation for the finalization of the 2016 budget and its eventual submission to the City Council for approval.

City Government Information Officer Belen Sheila Covarrubias said the hearings set at the City Hall conference are expected to last for a week.

Covarrubias said that discussions during the first day of hearing centered on the requirements for maintenance and other operating expenses of the city’s different national high schools, vocational technical schools, different levels of court, and different city departments including the Office of the City Mayor.

She said that security, health and education will continue to be the priority of the present administration.

The 2015 budget is P2.597 billion -- P168 million more than the previous budget of P2.429 billion.

Last June 10, Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar convened the City Development Council where the body approved the City’s P2.8 billion Annual Investment Plan.

Prior to the marathon budget hearings, the City Finance committee also met with all the officials from the city’s 98 villages for the barangay budget forum, also preparatory to the finalization of the 2016 budget. (Bong Garcia)