ILOILO – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) approved the provincial government’s P4.3-billion budget for 2022.
It was unanimous, said Vice Gov. Christine Garin, the SP presiding officer.
The executive department’s proposal was approved intact. Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. submitted it to the SP on Oct. 14.
The budget is broken down as follows:
* General fund – P979,334,480
* Maintenance and other operating expenses – P1,448,316,569
* Capital Outlay – P13,700,000
* Special Purpose Lump Sum Appropriations – P1,918,102,022
The 2022 budget is over P1-billion larger than 2021’s P3,234,509,176 budget.
The increase, according to Defensor, was due to the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Mandanas-Garcia case, in which local government units (LGUs) will now have a share in the tariff collected by the Bureau of Customs.
“The policy is we will increase your allotment but we will also increase the responsibilities…but waay man sang bag-o gid sila nga ginbutang sa menu nga wala naton gina-obra,” said Defensor.
The 2022 budget focuses on five objectives of the provincial government:
* increase investment and employment opportunities
* attain food security
* provide accessible health and social services
* protect and sustainably manage the resources and assets of the province
* provide effective, efficient and transparent administrative service/PN
