ILOILO – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) approved Supplemental Budget No. 2 of the provincial government totaling P559,793,925.62.
Of the approved budget, P538,767,867.62 was for the General Fund while P21,026,058 was for Local Economic Enterprise.
According to Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, the supplemental budget would finance, among others, the upgrading of 12 district hospitals costing some P246 million.
The budget was approved during the June 26 session of the SP.
From the fund would be taken, too, the P12-million budget for medical assistance targeting the poor.
The supplemental budget would also finance the following:
* office of the Internal Audit Unit
* increase in job hires’ salaries – from P430 per day to P477.72 per day
* for the salaries of 36 casuals granted permanent positions in district hospitals
* salaries for seven provincial engineers and nurses at the Iloilo Provincial Hospital and Sara District Hospital
* upgrade of capitol’s air-conditioning system costing P20 million
* P2.9 million for the Iloilo Provincial Police Office’s communication system, P1.8 million for police vehicles and P1.5 million for the completion of police barracks
Banias said the SP also allotted P1.5-million financial assistance to village watchmen, daycare workers, barangay service point officers and barangay health workers .
Also covered by the supplemental budget was the ordinance mandating the provision of medical kits to far-flung barangays./PN
