The Sangguniang Panlungsod unanimously approved on first, second and third reading yesterday Bacolod City’s 2015 annual budget, amounting to P1.55 billion, which is an increase of P285 million from the 2014 budget.
Acting Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran yesterday said those who were not present yesterday were councilors Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, Carlos Jose Lopez and Caesar Distrito. He said Lopez is attending a seminar in Manila, Distrito is on official travel, while Batapa-Sigue’s father just passed away. Familiaran said the 2015 annual budget was approved with certain colatillas or conditions. Among the conditions is the provision of funds for ordinances passed last year, including payment of all obligations of the city which include court cases, as requested by Councilor Archie Baribar, he said. Familiaran said councilors Em Ang and Alex Paglumotan suggested that funds also be provided for the terminal leave pay of employees from the previous administration, who have not yet been paid. He has also requested for funds to be provided for the enrollment of all job order casuals in PhilHealth, as mandated by Republic Act 7875, or the Universal PhilHealth Act, Familiaran said. Familiaran said he hopes programs and projects included in the annual budget will be implemented, especially the city’s annual investment plan with the passage of the 2015 budget. The allocations under the 2015 annual budget include: general public services – P804,054,034.20 (52 percent of the total budget); social services sector – P252,162,453 (16 percent); special purpose appropriations – P360,059,553.80 (23 percent). Councilor Claudio Puentevella, chairman of the SP Committee on Finance and Appropriation, said the terminal pay of employees from the previous administration was allocated P10 million and if the mayor has requests, they will allocate additional funds. So they expect that the terminal pay will be paid. Part of the colatilla requires a list of the balance of those who have not been paid, he said. He said they have also considered the suggestion of Ang to provide vehicles to the different departments since they have funds from the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office. So they have allocated about P9 million for the different departments and through the decision of Ang, they might have an additional budget, he added. Puentevella said they have allocated P150 million for environmental services intended for one year, which include the expansion of the sanitary landfill operations. With the increase in this year’s budget of P285 million, they expect more projects and programs to be implemented next year, he said. Meanwhile, acting Mayor Greg Gasataya said the contract of EnviroKing Corporation will expire on Dec. 31. Under the contract, the city can extend the services of the private contractor for a certain period of time if the bidding is not yet finished, so garbage collection will not be hampered, he said. Gasataya said the city may also terminate the contract of the private contractor and the Department of Public Services will do the collection of garbage. The budget for environmental services under the City Mayor’s Office was increased from P110 million to P150 million because, based on the explanation of the SP, this will cover garbage collection and other activities related to solid waste management, including the construction of another cell at the sanitary landfill site since the existing facility is about to be filled up within this year, he said. Gasataya recalled that the 2014 budget was approved first week of December, and the contract between the city and Metrowaste Solidwaste was also extended.*CGS BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO Visayan Daily Star
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