By Ric V. Obedencio
The Bohol Chronicle
Vice-Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan aims to enact the proposed 2008 annual budget before January next year.
This came after the SP tackled on first reading during its regular session last week the proposed 2008 annual budget amounting to P886,663,537.
Herrera, who chairs the powerful SP appropriations committee, issued the statement to fast track the approval of the annual outlay before New Year's Day even as he scheduled budget hearings that may commence next week.
The SP has taken note of the increase of the proposed budget by P93,093,497 basing from the 2007 budget worth P793,570,040.
Gov. Erico Aumentado, in his message after he submitted the proposal to the SP, said that the annual budget aims to provide access the people to all basic needs and services.
He also pointed out that it also attempt to improve the organizational and human resource capabilities and the investment climate and environment and increase agricultural productivity.
Enhancing tax collection, tax rates upgrading and upgrading hospital fees/charges and revenue generation are among the priorities of the budget, he added.
As usual, the personnel services (salaries, wages) got the lion's share amounting to P374,142,453, higher than this year's P355,394,042 or 44.78%.
To keep the provincial operations sustained, the maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) is pegged at P212,002,889, much higher than P170,359,340 for 2007 or 21.47%.
Capital Outlay, which has an allocation of P12,166,000 (for 2007), is decreased to P10,434,000. The proposed Non-Office allocation is hiked to P24,000,000 from P21,500,000.
Included in the proposed budget are the budgetary requirements, such as the 20% Development Fund, 5% Reserve Fund (Calamity) and Aid to the Barangays in the amounts of P160,084,769; P43,519,692; and P5,545,000, respectively.
There is a hefty increase of the 20% Development Fund in the amount of P160,084,769 from this year's P145,750,000. This fund is taken from the share of Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).
Gender and Development (GAD) also got a slight increase in the amount of P29,207,740 from P29,026,440 while Inter-Government aid had P5,487,606; Other Special Purpose, P5,460,000; and unremitted payable to Bohol Light Compny, P5,460,000.
The Provincial Government is largely relying on its share of IRA from the national government in the total amount of P800,423,845 or some 90% of the total budget.
Only a total of P69,970,000 as income is derived from local revenues/local taxes, which is slightly higher than this year's P64,820,040. The said amount (P69,970,000) includes tax revenue of P27,160,000; Non-tax revenue, P30,660,000; and other receipts, P12,150,000.
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