Gov. Espino gives health top priority
P2.46-B CAPITOL BUDGET
LINGAYEN—The health sector is poised to to get the biggest chunk of the Pangasinan budget in 2014 with an allocation of P544. 3 million for the operations of province-run hospitals and P23.34 million for the Office of the Provincial Health Officer.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) finished the three-day evaluation of the proposed P2.46 billion budget last November 18 based on existing budget rules.
Vice Governor Ferdinand Calimlim, however, told The PUNCH that approval will be delayed to accommodate expected realilgnments owing to the recent decision of Supreme Court declaring the Priority Assistance Development Fund (PDAF) as unconstitutional.
Under the proposed budget submitted by the office of the governor, P616.5 million has been allocated as Development Fund (under the general government/non-office allocations).
Once the Supreme Court decision is deemed executory, observers believe the provincial government will have no choice but to resort to line item budgeting identifying the funds for specific activities and projects.
Other offices with the increased budgets are the Administrative Division (Office of the Provincial Governor) with P117,220,705 and the Office of the Provincial Engineer, P126,970,656.
In an interview, Governor Amado Espino Jr., vowed to continue to be transparent in the utilization of public funds of the different departments of the provincial government.
“Ngayon naman transparent na…naka-publish na (allocations) sa bulletin board nila,” Espino said.
Other allocations evaluated and initially approved were those of the departments under the Office of the Provincial Governor, namely: Office of the Provincial Warden, P23,265,484; Office of the Management Information Services, P3,911,357; Office of the Provincial Housing and Urban Development Coordinator, P4,001,093; Tourism Operations Division, P4,894,894; Office of the Provincial Librarian, P5,196,332; and Office of the Provincial Internal Audit, P1,232,683.
The Office of the SP is getting P112,310,288; Human Resources Management and Development Office, P9,671,043; Office of the Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator, P14,237,832; Office of the General Services Officer, P60,786,957; Office of the Provincial Budget Officer, P8,611,219; Office of the Provincial Accountant, P15,773,222; Office of the Provincial Treasurer, P23,167,681; Office of the Provincial Information Officer, P4,558,664; Office of the Provincial Legal Officer, P5,664,188;Office of the Provincial Assessor, P20,075,409; Office of the Provincial Population Officer, P8,738,704; Office of the Provincial Employment Service Officer, P5,397,979; Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, P62,827,214; Office of the Provincial Veterinarian, P15,316,585; Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, P12,765,018; Provincial Environment and Natural Services Office, P11,291,639; and the whole General Government (Non-office) division with P1,219,277,005.–Johanne R. Macob
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