ILOILO City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) approved yesterday the city government’s proposed annual budget for 2024, which amounts to P3,600,043,764.
This is 21.88 percent higher (P641.9 million) than the 2022 budget of P2.96 billion.
SP Committee on Appropriations chair Councilor Rex Marcus Sarabia said they decided not to alter the proposed 2024 budget because they found it to be equitably and efficiently distributed for the intended purposes.
Should there be budgetary shortfalls, these would be addressed through subsequent Supplemental Budgets, Sarabia added.
The breakdown of the 2024 annual budget is as follows:
* Personal Services – P1,165,510,951
* Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses – P1,790,216,864
* Financial Expenses – P121,953,023
* Capital Outlay – P162,657,280
* Special Purpose Appropriation – P746,474,517
Departments that requested budget increases included the City Mayor’s Office (P1.83 billion), City Environment and Natural Resources Office (P76.3 million), and General Services Office (P392 million).
“The City Mayor’s Office has one of the largest allocations due to the numerous departments under its jurisdiction. This includes consolidated expenses for office supplies, oil, lubricants, and fuels, as well as certain capital outlay and training expenses,” Sarabia explained.
In the 2023 budget, the largest portion was allocated to general public services, accounting for 48.63 percent (P1.4 billion). This funding supported the majority of the city’s programs, including those providing planning, financial, administrative, legal, and legislative services./PN