2018 HIGHER BY  9%

LINGAYEN – After holding an executive session to hear the budget proposal of Office of the Provincial Veterinarian last Nov. 20, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) is set to approve the 2018 provincial government’s P3.75 billion budget.

The annual budget proposed by the office of Gov. Amado Espino III was defended by department heads and key officials of provincial offices, including chiefs of hospitals in marathon hearings conducted by the committee of appropriations of the SP.

The budget hearings were presided by Board Member Angel Baniqued, Jr., chair of the committee on appropriations, and attended by Board Members Jeremy Agerico B.  Rosario, Noel C. Bince, Salvador S. Perez, Jr, Chinky Perez-Tababa, Generoso D. Tulagan, Jr., Shiela Marie Perez-Galicia, Clemente Ninio B. Arboleda, Liberato Z. Villegas, Raul P. Sison and Jeanne Jinky C. Zaplan. Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim also attended.

The Provincial Budget Office said the proposed  2018 annual budget is nine percent higher than the 2017 annual budget of  P3.422-B.

It is so far the biggest budget submitted by the provincial government.

Provincial budget for 2018 includes P1.083- B (33.6%) for Personal Services of regular offices and hospitals; P789-M (21.1%) for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses; P35-M (1%) for Capital Outlay; and P1.837-B (44.3%) for Non-office including Development Fund.

Estimated expenditures by sector are: P1.268-B (33.8%) for General Services; P809-M (21.6%) for Economic Services; and P1.669-B (44.6%) for Social Services.

The budget office said the proposed annual budget took into account the implementation of the third tranche of salary increase for officials and employees under Executive Order No. 201 dated February 19, 2016 which is effective on January 1, 2018.

Partial implementation of hazard pay to health workers was also provided.

Personal Services Allocation is 33.6%, level which has not yet reached the maximum Personal Services Cap under Section 325 (a) of RA No. 7160.

The Total Personal Services was increased by P108-M due to the implementation of salary increase to include casual and job order employees assigned at offices and hospitals of the province.

Maintenance and other Operating Expenses of offices and hospitals also increased by Php132-M which is based on programs, projects and activities to be implemented by these offices. (Leonardo Micua)

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