LINGAYEN — Gov. Victor Agbayani has submitted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for its approval the provincial government’s budget — for next year amounting to P1.1 billion.

Hilaria Claveria, provincial budget officer, said the 2007 budget is higher by P30 million compared to this year’s approved budget.

The proposed 2007 budget as contained in Proposed Appropriation Ordinance No. 3-2006 has been referred to the committee on monetary and economic affairs headed by Board Member Angel Baniqued.

The bulk of the proposed budget goes to maintenance and other operating expenses of the various offices amounting to P622 million or 56 percent of the total budget.

P484 million or forty-three percent of the proposed budget, will go to personal services, whileonly P7.7 million representing one percent has been allocated for capital outlay.

Claveria said the outlay for personal services covers salaries and wages, clothing allowance of P4,000 per employee, insurances, year-end bonus, cash gifts, and other benefits including the monthly additional compensation allowance of P1,500 per employee.

In his budget message, Agbayani stressed that the proposed budget “gives ample elbow room for our priority development thrusts especially those related to agriculture, infrastructure, health care, education, tourism and trade promotion, human resources development and environmental protection.”

According to the governor, the construction of more irrigation facilities, farm-to-market roads, post-harvest facilities promotion of hybrid rice production, and expansion of the Grains Marketing Assistance Program will receive the highest priority.

He added that the province will continue its efforts to upgrade hospital services and facilities, strengthen its tie-up with other local government units for the construction of more potable water systems, and intensify the Kalusugan sa Barangay medical-dental-surgical mission to serve more patients in remote villages.

The province’s reforestation and watershed development program will be expanded to cover an additional 400 hectares, including mangrove areas.

The other priority projects include the ongoing development of the Capitol area and the Maramba Boulevard into prime tourist attractions and the restoration of the Sison auditorium into the province’s premier cultural and arts center.

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