DAVAO CITY – The Davao City Council committee on Finance, Ways and Means is ready to deliberate on second reading the proposed P7.8 billion budget of the city government for 2018.
“The committee will favorably endorse the budget,” said Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, chair of the Committee of City Council Committee on Finance, as his committee already finished conducting hearings.
He expected the annual budget for 2018 will further address the social services of the city government and programs under the 10-point development agenda of Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Before that, Dayanghirang said the city council needs to approve the city’s Annual Implementing Plan and Local Development and Investment Plan, which is a menu of projects for the next three years.
“We can’t put the budget without the investment plan,” according to Dayanghirang.
He said 20 percent of the annual implementing plan will be allocated to the different projects of the executive departments.
Davao City is one of the billionaire cities in the Philippines.
This year, the city has annual budget of P6.9 billion, reflecting an increase of 10.2 percent from 2016 with P6.3 billion. In 2014, the city’s annual budget was P5.1 billion and increased to P5.8 billion in 2015.
Dayanghirang said the city council has yet to tackle two supplemental budgets before the year ends. He is not sure though how much the two supplemental budgets amount.
Like in 2017, the city’s Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) from the national coffers will remain the top source of the city’s budget. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)