Aklan SP approves 2010 provincial budget
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – The Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) has approved the P949-million 2010 budget of the provincial government on Friday.
With SP member Jose Yap presiding, the legislative council unanimously ratified in third and final reading the proposed budget for the General Fund and the Economic Enterprise Development Department (EEDD).
SP member Rodson Mayor, member of the Appropriations Committee, dismissed the possibility of having a re-enacted budget as the chamber will stick to its schedule to pass the budget bill before the Christmas break.
At the Aklan SP session on Thursday, Vice Governor Gabrielle Calizo-Quimpo took part in the deliberations of the budget measure and in the review of the budget items of the departments.
Emotions flared and the afternoon session was suspended past 6 p.m. as Mayor figured in a ‘heated argument’ with the presiding officer Calizo-Quimpo.
With time running out, the Aklan SP convened a session the following day just to approve the P557-million budget for General Fund and P392-million budget for EEDD.
Secretary to the Sanggunian Odon Bandiola said, in the absence of Vice Governor Calizo-Quimpo last Friday, Aklan SP member Yap acted as presiding officer to wrap up the budget deliberations and approval.
Meanwhile, Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez is expected to sign the final version of the budget for 2010 into an ordinance this week following its ratification by Aklan SP.