NO MORE REENACTED BUDGET NEXT YEAR

THE Dagupan Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), under a new majority, passed on November 12 the city’s P1.61 billion proposed budget for 2025 along with the Annual Investment Program (AIP), allowing the administration of Mayor Belen Fernandez to proceed with the implementation of its programs at will unlike in 2023 when it was compelled to operate on a reenacted budget.

“I’m so much happy with the early passage of the annual budget. It means we can start the programs and projects that we have envisioned as early as January next year,” she told newsmen as she signed copies of the annual budget submitted to her office the next day by City Secretary Ryan Ravanzo.

This year and in 2023, the previous SP majority composed of seven opposition councilors, delayed the approval of the annual budget proposal.

The approved 2025 AIP of P2.25 billion was endorsed by the finance, budget and appropriations committee now headed by Councilor Michael Fernandez, who also authored Ordinance No. 0-900 entitled “authorizing the annual budget of the City Government of Dagupan for Calendar Year 2025 in the amount of P1.608 billion.”

The P1.608 million budget covers the following: General Services, P447.2 million; Social Services, P717.5 million; Economic Services, P215.1 million; and Others Services, P227.9 million.

Luz de Guzman, chief of staff and city department head, said the approved 2025 budget also includes a 20% development fund at P185 million to be used for more than 60 infrastructure projects identified by the local government.

The bulk of next year’s funding will come from the share of the city from the P920.8 million national allotment covering 57.3% followed by Local Taxes, P438 million or P27.2%. Other sources are: share from E-VAT, P500,000; Tobacco Excise Tax, P2 million; Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office P1 million; Operating and Business Revenue, P231 million or P14.4%; and Miscellanelous Income, P15.2 million.

Three of the seven opposition councilors who used to make up the majority are currently on a 60-day suspension as ordered by the Office of the President. The four others — Councilors Librada Reyna, Alvin Coquia, Celia Lim and Marilou Fernandez — walked out of the session hall before the 2025 budget was taken up. Prior to leaving, Reyna and Coquia delivered their respective privileged speeches accusing the new majority of committing illegal acts. (Leonardo Micua) 

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