The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Bohol has approved the P4.5 billion proposed budget for 2021.
This proposed budget is for the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) was approved during the regular session of the SP on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020.
All members of the SP voted in favor of the appropriation ordinance which is reportedly 33 percent higher compared to the 2020 provincial budget. The province’s 2020 budget was pegged at P3.4 billion compared to the 2021 budget which is P4.5 billion.
Also approved during Tuesday’s SP session is the budget for the province’s economic enterprise, Cafe Caloy, pegged at P15 million.
Vice Gov. Rene Relampagos told Capitol beat reporters that the 2021 proposed budget is more or less aligned with the recommendations of the executive department headed by Gov. Arthur Yap.
In a separate radio interview over Newsmakers ug Uban Pa on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020 hosted again by Ardy Batoy and Dave Albarado, the president of the Philippine Councilors’ League (PCL), Bohol chapter, Jescelo Adiong said that the budget was scrutinized carefully. Adiong said he sees no irregularities in the proposed appropriation ordinance which is set to be signed by the governor.
The committee report regarding the appropriation ordinance 036-2020 was presented by Second District Board Member Restituto Auxtero, vice chairman of the Committee on Budget, Finance, and Appropriation.
According to reports, the distribution of amount appropriation of the proposed budget is as follows: P1.177 billion for general services sector; P1.233 billion for the social services sector; P2.034 billion for the economic services sector; and P147 million for the disaster risk reduction and management
According to Vice Gov. Relampagos, after the SP approval of the budget, the appropriation ordinance will be transmitted to the office of Gov. Arthur Yap for the latter’s signature.
Furthermore, the appropriation ordinance, once signed by the governor, will be submitted to the Department of Budget and Management for review.