The expenditures for next year target programs that will improve healthcare services, develop other tourist spots, support employment programs and the anti-drug campaign in the province of Aklan.
Aklan governor Florencio Miraflores submitted to Sangguniang Panlalawigan for deliberations the proposed P1,814,806,333 budget for 2017.
The proposed budget covers P1,062,207,833 regular fund and P752,598,500 for the operation of Economic Enterprise Development Department (EEDD).
Provincial Board Secretary Odon Bandiola said the annual budget increased by P300 million from this year’s P1.5 billion, which reached the P1.8 billion mark for the first time.
After the series of budget hearings, the executive department is expecting the approval of the 2017 budget next month.
Next year’s budget will prioritize improvements of basic essential services in healthcare, social services in municipalities and barangays including Gobyerno sa Baryo program and re-develop tourism programs to promote side tours in Aklan apart from Boracay.
Of the annual budget, the executive department also increased allocation for the anti-drug campaign by law enforcement agencies, support for persons with disabilities and senior citizens and incentive to centenarians and for the protection of children.
The governor said the budget proposal was drafted by the departments and evaluated by the Provincial Local Finance Committee (PLFC) through forums and conferences with the civil society organizations and stakeholders.
Miraflores added the “EEDD budget is increased by 20 percent compared to previous year due to efforts in exploring possibilities in identifying new revenue resources and innovative solutions to improve collections using the approved revenue code.”
Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital in Kalibo, Aklan got the lion’s share of EEDD budget with P418.987 million or 56 percent of P752.598 million. The second biggest chunk of the budget is port operations with P139.334 million followed by Ibajay District Hospital with P58.490 million.
As to Godofredo P. Ramos Hospital, the executive department proposed P40.359 million while the budget for construction development and quarrying services amounted to P13.704 million.
The province also allotted P9.089 million for resort / hotel operations; P5.897 million for Provincial Academic Center and P5.212 million for commercial center operations.
The regular budget is also rose by 11 percent which is attributed to slight growth in Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), the main revenue source of next year’s budget.
“The assessment of the long term development plan in relation to what were accomplished for the last three years and with consideration to the agenda of our new administration calls for a need to re-prioritize our spending pattern giving priorities to programs that need immediate attention while improving delivery of public service as a good foundation of economic growth,” Miraflores said in his budget message.
Five percent of the budget is also allotted for disaster risk reduction and management programs including construction of evacuation center and purchase of rescue equipments and supplies.
This year’s budget theme is “Re-Prioritization Government Spending and Transforming Public Services, Linking Budget to Performance Targets with Measurable Results.”
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
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