KALIBO, Aklan – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Aklan will resume its marathon hearings on the proposed P2,004,450,307 annual budget for 2021 this week.
The budget theme is “Redefining economic policies, finding ways and means to address instantaneous needs, while backing up local producers, farmers and fuel economic activities for a stronger and resilient Aklanon in this time of pandemic.” It aims to ensure that Aklan is well-equipped in public health crisis.
The Committee of the Whole will deliberate the annual budget endorsed by Gov. Florencio Miraflores, about nine percent less than this year’s approved budget.
The presentation of the department’s budget proposals will be done on Nov. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, and 19 budget hearings. Provincial Board members are eyeing to approve the 2021 annual budget covering the regular fund and for the operation of Economic Enterprise Development Department (EEDD) before the year ends.
“Like last year, we are looking at mid-December,” said Vice Gov. Reynaldo Quimpo, the SP presiding officer.
In 2019 the SP approved the 2020 annual budget of P2,224,400,505.
The annual Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) of the province is expected at 65 percent of the proposed budget at P1,297,750,307, while six percent or P115 million will come from local tax revenues.
The proposed budget would be sourced also from the projected two percent of non-tax revenues and 27 percent from the operations of EEDD.
Of the total budget, 48 percent or P971 million is allocated for social services. General public services will get P538 million or 27 percent and economic services has P495 million or 25 percent.
Over P481 million of the EEDD budget will go to the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital, a provincial government-run hospital in Kalibo, followed by Ibajay District Hospital with P84 million, port operations with P84 million, resort and hotel operations with P9.789 million and commercial center operations with P2.762 million.
A budget briefing was conducted by the Provincial Local Finance Committee (PLFC) on the 2021 General Fund and EEDD on Oct. 29, 2020 to kick-start the marathon budget hearings./PN
