ILOILO – The 14th Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) unanimously approved the P4,182,735,093 annual budget for 2023 of the Iloilo provincial government during its 25th regular session on Friday, Dec. 9.
According to 4th District Board member Domingo Oso, Jr., chairperson of the SP committee on appropriations, more than P170 million was slashed from the 2023 annual budget compared to the P4,359,453,071 budget this year due to the reduced share of the province from the National Tax Allocation (NTA), formerly called the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).
“Dependent kita sang aton nga budget sa tax proceeds from the national government, amo na nga nagnubo ang tax allocation. So, nubo man ang aton budget for the year 2023,” explained Oso.
Here is the breakdown of the 2023 annual budget:
* Personal services – P1,129,714,114
* Maintenance and other operating expenses – P1,481,965,199
* Capital outlay – P81,000,000
* Special purpose appropriation – P1,490,055,780
With a lower annual budget, some services of the provincial government may be affected like social services, the reason why austerity measures must be practiced, said Oso.
“At this point of time we have to practice austerity measures kay bal-an ang aton budget basically dependent sa aton NTA allocation, dependent kita sa proceed sang aton nga national taxes,” the board member explained.
Oso said the approved 2023 budget underwent scrupulous committee hearings to ensure that each office will receive appropriate budget despite the lower allocation.
He also assured the public that the 14th SP, headed by Vice Gov. Christine Garin, together with Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., will take measures and find income-generating ways so that the social services of the province will not be hampered.
Earlier, Defensor disclosed that he anchors the proposed P4.182 billion budget with the provincial government’s objective for the next three years – to achieve a “Movement for Resurgent, Progressive, Globally Competitive and Resilient” or “MoReProGRes”.
“MoReProGRes” has the following specific goals:
* to increase investments and employment opportunities
* to attain food security
* to provide accessible health and social services
* to promote public safety
* to protect and manage the resources and assets of the province
* to provide effective, efficient and transparent government administrative service.
Defensor wants to maximize agricultural production for 2023 to create a value chain for agricultural products so that it can generate employment and business for agri-tourism.
The governor also aims to create growth areas that will serve as investment centers for information and communication technology and other similar industries./PN
