Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III will ask for a budget close to P3 billion next year, a little higher than this year’s “realistic and conservative” P2.59 billion.
Davide said the bulk of the budget will go to projects on health and agriculture, the flagship programs of his administration.
The governor has until Oct. 16 to submit a proposed budget to the Provincial Board.
Provincial Budget Officer Rodas said the goal of a larger budget is based on a higher internal revenue allotment (IRA) which Cebu province expects to receive.
By 2015, Cebu province will receive a P2.31 billion as its IRA share which is P260 million higher from this year’s allocation.
“The final figure remains to be seen but it won’t go lower than P2.8 billion. That will be the available fund for next year,” Rodas told reporters.
The PB held a series of budget hearings with Capitol department heads and heads of provincial and district hospitals.
Once the executive budget is submitted to the PB, another round of budget hearings will be made by the committee on budget and appropriations headed by PB Member Grecilda “Gigi” Sanchez.
Last year, Davide’s proposed budget was approved uncut by the Liberal Party (LP)-dominated PB.
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