Vice Governor Rene Lopez Relampagos and the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Committee of Budget, Finance and Appropriations, have concluded the scheduled marathon budget hearings for the proposed annual budget of the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) for the year 2022, according to reports.
The budget hearings were concluded on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, with no less than Gov. Arthur C. Yap taking the time to be present during the last day of the budget presentations.
The Office of the Social Welfare and Development Office (OPSWD) is among the offices that presented its budget on Friday. The said agency proposed substantial increase in its budget to provide more services to Boholanos.
The other office which presented its budget on Friday was the Provincial Engineering Office (PEO). The said agency asked for increased funding to facilitate more infrastructure projects here in the province.
The OPSWD is proposing an additional budget allocation for crisis intervention assistance programs. These include the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) to be downloaded to the 10 hospitals owned and operated by PGBh.
As of their mid-year assessment, there were more or less 10,000 clients who benefited from the AICS, according to the OPSWD.
Relampagos said the reason for downloading the assistance to the hospitals is to lessen the burden of Boholanos from the various towns from coming over to Tagbilaran and instead just avail themselves of the assistance in the nearest PGBh-owned hospital where they reside.
The vice governor added that he is drafting a proposed ordinance to strengthen the AICS program to benefit more Boholanos.
A program under the OPSWD, which is going to get funding next year, is the Bereavement Assistance Program. In this program the PGBh will donate a sack of rice and cash to the bereaved family members.
Other programs under the office for social services include, among others, assistance to persons with disabilities (PWD), assistance to senior citizens, child protection program, Bohol Youth Home Program, women’s program, assistance to indigenous people’s program and community welfare and development program.
Relampagos said the reason for the substantial increase in the amount of social services is that the PGBh wants to provide more assistance especially during emergency cases like this current pandemic.
Meanwhile, Provincial Engineer Camilo Gasatan said there is a need to have an increase in their 2022 budget because of additional infrastructure projects for road improvements and concreting in the various municipalities here.
Gasatan said only 48% of the total provincial road in the province is concreted while the remaining 52% of provincial roads need to be improved.
In his message, Yap conveyed his gratitude to Relampagos and the SP members for the untiring support to the various programs, projects and activities of the PGBh.
The top two officials of the PGBh are optimistic that the budget can help improve the lives of Boholanos in 2022.