• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The P3.6 billion budget of the Bacolod City government for next year was approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod on third and final reading Dec. 13.
Next year’s budget is P350 million higher than this year’s P3.250 billion, with 55 percent, or P1.97 billion, to be sourced from the National Tax Allotment (NTA) share, and 45 percent, or P1.63 billion, from local sources.
Mayor Alfredo Benitez, in his budget message, said 36 percent, or P1.32 billion, is earmarked for the General Public Services sector, composed of executive and legislative services at P828 million and P123 million, respectively, as well as the day-to-day operations of departments, agencies, and units of the city government.
The Social Services sector is allocated P1.24 billion or 34.61 percent of the budget pie, for education and manpower development, health services, housing and community projects, and social welfare.
Around 710 million, or 19.73 percent, is for Other Services, including the city’s digitization initiatives; and P317.9 million, or 8.83 percent, for Economic Services, to “nurture Bacolod’s reputation as a business-friendly city with a rich local economy”, and for tourism and cultural events.
“By prioritizing our commitment to the city and our constituents, our efforts at providing basic services, improved public use facilities, and development projects have remained uninterrupted and unwavering,” Benitez said.
The mayor added that the 2024 budget “maintains the City’s fiscal trajectory since attaining the three-billion mark” starting in fiscal year 2020, and then in FY 2022, and FY 2023.
Councilor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, chairperson of the SP Committee on Appropriation and Finance, also took note of the increase in funding for scholarships and education programs in next year’s budget. | CGC
