MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/30 June) — The Provincial Development Council (PDC) of Bukidnon on Wednesday approved a P1.852-billion annual investment plan for 2013.
But the Provincial Budget Office said the fate of the plan, which is the basis for next year’s budget, hinges on the internal revenue share from the national government even if it approved by the provincial board.
Once the provincial board adopts the plan the governor submits a detailed annual budget proposal in October to the board which will then hold hearings on it, said provincial board member Ranulfo Pepito, chair of the committee on appropriations.
If approved, the plan means a budget of P1,556 for the whole year or P4.32 daily per capita. The computation is based on Bukidnon’s 1.19 million inhabitants as per the August 2007 census.
The PDC approved the plan with some revisions including the reduction of the budget for the greening program from P20 million to P10 million next year.
The P10-million cut will be added to the P40-million counterpart to municipal infrastructure and environment projects.
The general fund comprises 73 percent of the investment plan. It includes P460.7 million for general administration and public services, P249.9 million for economic services such as maintenance of provincial roads pegged at P84.7 million, and P213 million for social services.
The social services investment plan includes P150 million for the indigents’ health program, P8 million for the scholarship program, P5 million for integrated social forestry program, and P1 million for the child protection program.
The plan allocated P750,000 for anti-rabies prevention program. Last year, the province had the highest number of deaths in Northern Mindanao due to dog bites at 11.
P300,000 has been allotted for the implementation of Republic Act 8504 or the HIV/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Act and another P300,000 for “indigenous peoples support program.”
The plan proposes P500,000 for the province’s compliance with RA 9729 or the Climate Change Act of 2009.
The P249.8-million development fund covers construction of barangay covered courts, livelihood projects, medical equipment. It also includes P5 million for the organic agriculture program to comply with RA 100068 and P1 million for “cultural heritage preservation and promotion program.”
“Tourism development program and support services,” which includes the annual Kaamulan festival, will get P5 million.
Bukidnon’s mandatory local disaster risk reduction and management fund for 2013 is estimated at P66.2 million.
The plan allots P61 million for loan amortization and P12 million for “peace and order program and support services.”
Bukidnon also plans to spend P34.1 million to build and repair school buildings next year. The amount is part of its P48.9-million special education fund.
It further intends to spend P501.4 million for its economic enterprises, P293.5 million of which is for the operation of its eight hospitals. P80 million is intended for drugs, medicines and related expenses.
Anecito Romano, who sits in the PDC as an NGO representative said he asked the council to allocate an amount for barangay health workers and other volunteers. But Gov. Alex Calingasan, he said, told the council there was no available budget for them. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)