ILOILO – The P5.1 billion budget of Iloilo province for 2024 has been approved.
On Dec. 19’s regular session, the 14th Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) approved Appropriation Ordinance No. 2023-02, Series of 2023, or “An ordinance authorizing the annual budget of the Iloilo provincial government for calendar year 2024 for the General Fund in the amount of P4,174,923,145 and for the Local Economic Enterprise (LEE) in the amount of P957,610,909 covering the various expenditures for the operation of the Iloilo provincial government for calendar year 2024, and appropriating the necessary funds for the purpose.”
In total, the province has P5,132,534,054 in the General Fund and LEE.
The General Fund is allocated to Personal Services, Special Purpose Appropriations, and Capital Outlay, among others.
Also, the bulk of the budget is directed towards development programs, focusing primarily on connectivity, tourism, water supply, provincial-led Agricultural and Fisheries Extension Systems (PAFES), and renewable energy, among others.
Fourth District Board member Domingo Oso Jr. said they made no changes to the amount proposed by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
“We already approved it, and wala man kita sang ginbuhin sa proposed amount sang governor,” Oso, chairperson of the SP appropriations committee, told Panay News.
Here’s the breakdown of the General Fund worth P4.174 billion:
* Personal Services – P1,144,766,540
* Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses – P1,498,199,069
* Capital Outlay – P5,000,000
* Special Purpose Appropriations – P1,526,957,536
The P957,610,909 budget for LEE is allotted for the salaries of health workers and personnel of the 12 district hospitals and the Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan town.
In 2023, the SP unanimously approved a General Fund of P4,182,735,093 and over P900 million for the LEE.
The budget was allocated as follows:
* Personal Services: P1.130 billion
* Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses: P1.482 billion
* Capital Outlay: P81 million
* Special Purpose Appropriation: P1.490 billion./PN
