ILOILO City – This city will have P2.608 billion at its disposal in 2021. The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) approved this executive budget of the city government during its regular session last week.
Next year’s budget is 3.47 percent lower than this year’s P2.7 billion, according to City Councilor Rommel Duron.
Mayor Jerry Treñas said the particulars of the budget for next year are the same as this year’s budget due to “uncertainties” brought by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
He added that this was also due to closures of businesses in the city, an effect of the lockdowns instituted by the city government to contain the transmission of COVID-19.
“To say that 2020 was a financially tough year for the city of Iloilo would be an understatement. Going into 2021, we are still reeling from the effects of the pandemic that has impacted economies worldwide,” said Treñas.
Of the P2.608 billion estimated receipts, P1.3 billion or 52.69 percent is attributed to the city’s local sources while P1.2 billion or 44.66 percent represents the city’s share from the Internal Revenue Allotment.
Meanwhile, P17 million or .65 percent is attributed to the city’s share in the Economic Zone, with a capital spending of P5,823 for a projected population of 447, 992 inhabitants per 2025 National Statistics Office Census.
With the dip in the estimated receipts, Treñas underscored that the city’s aim is to prioritize programs and activities that will facilitate the visions of his administration while observing austerity measures to come up with a balanced budget without necessarily sacrificing the city’s mandate.
The city’s expenditure program for 2021 by sectors consisted of the following:
* personal services – P896,727,799
* maintenance and other operating expenses – P1,003,146,593
* capital outlay – P44,530,915
* special purpose appropriation – P664,398,564
The city’s chief executive also noted various measures adopted in the preparation of 2021 budget as part of the economic recovery from the pandemic.
One of these adjustments is the reduction of the daily wage of employees on job order basis by at least 20 percent from the previous year’s rates.
Also, appropriation for allowances provided to national government officials, specifically those on police service, traffic police service, fire service, crime laboratory, city/regional internal affairs service and elementary and secondary school teachers were made to cover only the first and the last quarter of the year.
Appropriation for travel expenses, on the other hand, were reduced by at least 50 percent for all offices concerned
The Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses were likewise reduced by at least five percent for all offices except those that are necessary.
Meanwhile, the operation of the Local Economic Enterprise will be sourced from estimated receipts of various city-run public markets and the slaughterhouse amounting to P78, 818, 800 or 2.13 percent higher than this year’s P77, 172, 543.
Treñas said the city’s 2021 budget also reflects existing plans and programs of the city.
These include the comprehensive land use plan, comprehensive development plan, local disaster risk reduction and management plan, local climate change action plan, Iloilo shelter plan, local development investment plan, peace and order plan, local health plan, and among others./PN
