No cuts in Aklan's P976-M budget, awaits SP approval

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan - With no hitches seen in the largest-ever provincial budget, the Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) will vote for approval of the proposed P976 million appropriation before the Christmas break.

SP member Rodsor Mayor said he expects no objections to be raised in the regular session on December 8 to further scrutinize the 2011 budget.

The committee on appropriation, finance, budget and ways and means took no more than one month to deliberate the proposed provincial budget submitted by Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez.

The executive department proposed budget was P976,436,012, of which P587,989,907 was allocated for the General Fund and P388,446,105 for Economic Enterprise Development Department (EEDD).

The committee chaired by SP member Selwyn Ibarreta begun hearing the budget on November 11 after the board members were briefed by the Provincial Local Finance Committee on the projected revenues and expenditures of the province.
"The hearing on the budget of various provincial departments was terminated today. There were no budget cuts or changes in the 2011 budget. SP Aklan will pass the 2011 budget on the third and final reading before the council goes on its Christmas break, " Mayor stressed.

Mayor said the 2011 budget will be ready for Marquez' signature before the Aklan SP takes its Christmas recess.
The proposed budget, he said, has allocations for social and economic services to finance the programs and projects to be implemented next year by the executive branch.

The provincial government offices such as the Provincial Planning and Development Office has a proposed appropriation of P8.446 million, Provincial Budget Office with P7.998 million, Provincial Treasurer's Office with P14.240 million, Provincial Agriculturist's Office with P8.471 million, Provincial Assessor’s Office with P13.693 million and Provincial Accounting Office with P15.463 million budget outlay.