BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry Treñas is seeking approval for a P4.13-billion budget for 2025 to fund the city’s various development projects, just eight months before he steps down from office.
Acting Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon submitted the proposed 2025 budget to the City Council’s appropriations committee, which will then hold hearings with several City Hall offices.
In his budget message, Treñas noted the proposed budget aims to support a range of initiatives that will continue to drive the city’s growth and development.
“I will be stepping away from public service with a happy heart knowing that I have done my job and have set an example for our young leaders to emulate,” said Treñas.
The mayor’s P4.13-billion proposed budget for 2025 is centered around the RISE program, which serves as the blueprint for Iloilo City’s future development.
The RISE program focuses on four key pillars: Responsive Governance, Investment in People, Sustainable Growth, and Excellence.
As Treñas nears the end of his term, the RISE program represents his administration’s vision for Iloilo City’s continued growth and development, which aims to impact on the city’s governance, economy, and overall quality of life for its residents.
The proposed P4.13-billion budget for 2025 categorizes expenditures by expense class, which includes maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) amounting to P1.65 billion, or 40 percent of the total budget.
This allocation covers operational costs necessary to maintain the city’s services and day-to-day functions, including utilities, supplies, and other essential expenditures.
Personal services (PS) account for 32 percent of the total budget, which is about P1.3 billion. This portion covers salaries, wages, and other benefits for city government employees.
The special purpose appropriations (SPA) represent 16 percent of the budget, or around P660.956 million.
SPAs are earmarked for specific programs or contingencies, such as calamity funds, debt servicing, or other priority projects.
Capital outlay accounts for eight percent of the total budget, amounting to P329.43 million. This allocation is intended for long-term investments such as infrastructure projects, the acquisition of equipment, and other assets crucial to the city’s development and modernization.
On the other hand, financial expenses (FinEx) account for 4 percent of the budget, or P183.389 million. This portion is set aside to cover the city’s financial obligations, such as interest payments on loans and other debt servicing costs.
The City’s Local Finance Committee has certified a total estimated receipts of P4,134,000,000 under the General Fund, which is 14.83 percent higher than the current year’s projections.
In the budget message, Treñas also mentioned the opposition from various sectors following the increase in the city’s real property valuation and fees.
“We tried to compromise with its partial implementation but it is because we have the political will to implement changes that we were able to expand our fiscal space and accommodate additional programs, projects, and activities,” the mayor said.
Of the P4.13-billion receipts under the general fund, the mayor pointed out that 57.43 percent could be attributed to local sources while 42.57 percent were from external sources, including our National Tax Allotment Share which also increased by 17.79 percent.
The city’s tax revenues are its primary source of funds among the local sources with a 12.89 percent increase in estimates.
Likewise, Treñas said the city government has adopted a new strategic policy dubbed the “RISE” program, which is the blueprint of this 2025 budget focusing on responsive governance, investment in people, sustainable growth, and excellence.
“I have nothing but profound gratitude that in all my years as a public servant, I was blessed with the opportunity to work with people who share the same values and visions I have,” the mayor added./PN
