AN estimated P6 billion proposed and revised annual budget for this year will be submitted by Cebu City Acting Mayor Margarita Osmeña to the council next week.

In her regular press conference yesterday, Osmeña said it will be easier for the legislative department to deliberate on her proposed annual budget because it is simplified compared to the previous budget proposal.

“We will try to make it as simple as possible,” she said.

Included as priorities under the proposed 2016 annual budget will be more than P80 million that will cover the 14th-month pay of the estimated 5,000 employees of City Hall.

During the flag-raising ceremony at City Hall yesterday, Osmeña assured the employees that they will be working on the budget to release their 14th-month pay.

“Pakpak sila. Syempre, no (they clapped their hands, of course),” she said when asked about the workers’ reaction.

Under Executive Order (EO) signed by President Benigno Aquino III, local government units (LGUs) are required to release the 14th-month pay of their employees, which is equivalent to a month’s salary.

LGUs are required to start giving it since May 14.

Among the items that will be included in the budget is the amortization for the South Road Properties (SRP), which is a statutory obligation of the City Government.

Although she has yet to disclose the items that will be included in the budget, Osmeña said her version will not be more than P6 million, which is lesser compared to the P9.4 billion previously proposed by suspended and outgoing Michael Rama.

It will be lesser because they will no longer include the full payment for the SRP loan, Osmeña said.

Last week, Councilor James Cuenco sponsored a resolution returning the P9.4 billion proposed annual budget of Rama and asked the new executive department to submit another budget proposal, so as not to complicate the deliberation.

Osmeña said her office and the local finance committee is expected to complete the new budget proposal this week and is expected to be included in the agenda for council deliberation next week.

She said Acting Vice Mayor Lea Japson already assured her that they will act immediately on the budget proposal once it reached them.