GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The provincial government of South Cotabato has allocated an additional P167 million to fund the implementation of its priority programs and projects for this year.
South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes said Tuesday such funding comprised the local government’s second supplemental budget, which was approved by the provincial board in a special session late last week.
She said the funds will be utilized for the implementation of additional development projects and provision of basic services.
The governor said they have set aside nearly P40 million for the local government’s 20 percent Local Development Fund, which was specifically intended for the construction and rehabilitation of infrastructure projects.
She said among the priority projects are the construction of the Lake Lahit Tourism facility worth P20 million and the rehabilitation of the Lamdalag-Lamkadi-Klubi Road worth P7.15 million in Lake Sebu town.
“These are part of our commitment this year in line with the continuing enhancement of our tourism sector in Lake Sebu,” she said.
The local government and the Department of Tourism have poured millions of pesos worth of development projects these past years in the scenic Lake Sebu town, which is the province’s banner tourist destination.
The projects included the construction and upgrading of the area’s road networks and development of tourism facilities.
Lake Sebu hosts three major lakes, waterfalls and spring water resources that regularly draw domestic and foreign tourists.
Fuentes said they also allotted some P19.1 million for the purchase of medical, dental and laboratory supplies, drugs and medicines, and medical equipment for the provincial hospital in Koronadal City.
She said an additional P25 million was set aside as subsidy for hospital and health-related programs.
Some P4.2 million was set to augment the operational expenses of the Norala district hospital, P2.2 million for the Upper Valley Community Hospital and P1.5 million for the Polomolok municipal hospital, she said.
Fuentes said an additional P8 million was allocated for the local government’s flagship Kabugwason Paglaum Scholarship Program.
Some P22.3 million was set aside for the operational expenses of the executive department while the rest of the funds was allotted for other office and non-office expenses, she said.
The supplemental budget will be drawn from the provincial government’s cash saving in 2016 and unappropriated balance from this year’s general fund’s savings, reversion of unsubstantiated payable accounts, collection of prior year real property tax receivable and underestimated income.(PNA)
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