SAN JOSE, Antique – The United Provincial Government Employees of Antique (UPGEA) staged an ecumenical rally yesterday to petition the passage of the province’s annual budget that is still under deliberation by the Provincial Board.
The rally was held at the New Antique Capitol lobby.
UPGEA president Ma. Lourdes Fortaleza, in an interview on Wednesday, said they are hoping that the Provincial Board would approve the P1,421,418,085 budget for 2019.
The approval of the budget is important, especially to the more than 1,400 job order employees who until now waiting for their contract renewal with the provincial government, Fortaleza said.
The Philippine Independent Church, Roman Catholic church, Evangelical church, and the Muslim community joined the rally.
On the same day, the Provincial Board tackled the 2019 budget, which Gov. Rhodora Cadiao decided to remand untouched.
“The governor believes that the budget has already undergone the scrutiny of the local finance committee and heads of offices so she is returning it to the provincial board as it is,” Board member Fernando Corvera said.
He added that the job order employees could really be affected if the budget is not approved, in which case the provincial government would operate under a reenacted budget. (With PNA/PN)
