THE City Council has been commended by the executive department for their approval of the 2024 budget, which endorses a progressive development agenda for the city.
City Administrator Roy Hilario Raagas, at a recent flag-raising event, expressed gratitude to the council for endorsing City Hall’s P11.2 billion budget for the forthcoming year.
Like Raagas, City Mayor’s Office Chief of Staff Shiela Lumbatan expressed her appreciation for the 20th City Council's support of the approved budget for 2024.
Earlier, The said budget was discussed and approved during a city event.
“Mayor Klarex and his team had a significant role in forming this budget,” said Lumbatan.
Lumbatan said that the budget was shaped by the mayor’s RISE development and governance program.
According to Lumbatan, the mayor also praised the city council’s head vice mayor, Jocelyn Rodriguez, for her efforts and contributions in helping to shape the city’s legislative agenda for the betterment of the city.
One of the key points of the budget, as Lumbatan highlighted, is a P2.7 billion allocation for building a government center and developing an eco-tourism site in Upper Dagong, Carmen.
Like Lumbatan, Raagas also highlighted how important this project will be, not just for the city’s administrative processes, but also for the public.
The budget was given the green light during a Monday morning event run by the City Assessment Department, as told by Raagas.
Earlier in the month, the City Council had already approved the 2024 budget.
The budget was approved with a majority vote of 14 in favor and 4 abstentions.
“This approval happened during the executive budget hearing at a local hotel,” said Lumbatan.
Further details of the budget show that of the total P11.2 billion, P8.3 billion will be used for programs and running costs at City Hall.
An additional P2.9 billion will be set aside as a loan to pay for the building of the government center and the development of the nearby Eco Park in Upper Dagong, which is in Carmen, the city’s largest village.
Councilor Edgar Cabanlas, the majority floor leader and chair of the council’s laws and rules committee, confirmed that the budget has been approved.
Acting City Budget Officer Roxanne Ravidas provided more information during the budget hearing.
She revealed that about P10.36 billion of the 2024 budget will come from external and local revenues.
Ravidas explained that around 44.36 percent, or P4.96 billion, of the P11.2 billion budget, will be used to help the city bring in more income.
Out of the P4.96 billion, P3.6 billion is set aside for infrastructure programs, like the planned city government center and eco-tourism site (P2.7 billion), and road widening and opening projects (P370 million).
Also, P209.5 million will be used for flood control and the building of bank protection structures.
In terms of social services, the city has set aside P3.397 billion, which is 30.34 percent of the P11.2 billion budget.
This money will be used to support different programs related to health, nutrition, and hospital services.
Around P2.83 billion is set aside for efforts to promote peace, order, and public safety.
Ravidas pointed out that the P11.2 billion budget for 2024 is P3.4 billion more than the P7.8 billion budget in 2023.
However, she mentioned that this increase includes the proposed P2.7 billion.
