GOV. Hilario Davide III yesterday said the Capitol can now improve the services of district hospitals and provincial hospitals owned by the Provincial Government, after the Provincial Board (PB) approved its P4.5-billion budget for 2018 last Dec. 4.
Davide summarized the P4.5- billion 2018 annual budget by sectoral services as P1.4 billion for general public services (including health care), P2.074 billion for social services, and P943.3 million for economic services. Davide said the proposed 2018 budget was higher by P879.4 million or about 24 percent than the 2017 budget of P3.6 billion.
The annual budget increase was due mainly to the increase in the Capitol’s Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) by P210 million, the proceeds from the sale of the Cebu International Convention Center totaling P300 million, hospital income in the amount of P171 million, and an estimated unappropriated surplus of P170 million.
The P300-million proceeds of CICC sale will be divided this way: P238 million for provincial hospitals in Carcar City and Danao City; P13.04 million for the acquisition of service vehicles for all 16 hospitals; P25 million for a dormitory or housing for local officials from component cities and municipalities and other places; P9 million for the construction of a cooperative building; and P30 million for multi-level parking building in the Capitol compound.
Davide said the increase in estimated hospital income is the result of Capitol’s investments in hospital equipment and personnel, which have improved surgical capability and hospital services. The increase will be used to finance the hiring of additional hospital personnel and the third tranche of a salary increase.
Davide said the operation of hospitals and public health services received the bulk of the total budget at P1.426 billion, which comprises 31.7 percent or an increase of P313.7 million.
For the IRA share and unappropriated surplus, P230 million will be for road/bridge construction/rehabilitation; P82 million for agri-vet equipment and facilities; P41.6 million for upgrading of Women and Children Development Center, My Home Rehabilitation Center, and Children-in-Conflict with the Law facility; P40 million for environmental projects to be spearheaded by the Solid Waste Management Board; P25 million for the acquisition of vehicles for the Philippine National Police (PNP); and P70 million for the third tranche of salary increase of Capitol officials and personnel. (EOB)