BATANGAS CITY – The multi-sectoral City Development Council has approved a supplemental budget of PHP1.7-billion during the Full Council Meeting on Tuesday.
City Planning and Development Coordinator Januario Godoy told Philippine News Agency on Thursday that under the 2018 City Supplemental Annual Investment Program No. 1, PHP1.3 billion has been appropriated for general public services; PHP7.5 million for social development; and PHP384.7 million for economic services.
Godoy said the Annual Investment Program (AIP) contains the programs and projects that are up for implementation by the city government and the barangays, which are funded for the current fiscal year.
He said that part of the city government public services expenditure is the financial obligation for a loan from the LandBank of the Philippines, which was previously part of the 20 percent Development Fund but the Commission on Audit disallowed it. It is now being charged to the General Fund.
He explained that part of the approved budget is the list of programs and projects of the Department of Education (DepEd)-Batangas City division that were not included in the Special Education Fund and in the Annual Investment Program.
The city budget also includes the allocated funds for the purchases of lots based on requests from barangay (village) chiefs. These are proposed sites of village covered courts and health centers, among other facilities.
“Ang ibang barangay na may kakayahang bumili ng lupa ay may share na pondo ng pamahalaang lungsod o ng pamahalaang nasyonal para sa konstruksyon ng building (other barangays however can afford to buy their lots and also receive their share of the city government funds or from the national government for the construction of the buildings),” he explained.
The social services allocations are earmarked for the Colegio ng Lungsod ng Batangas (Batangas City College) and various services of the City Health Office and the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).
The economic services funds are also intended for veterinary and agricultural services, environment, engineering, market administration and infrastructure projects; and those covered by the city disaster risk reduction and management office. (Maroe T. Genosa/PNA)
