Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario has proposed a P786M budget for 2011 to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, pleading the budget is necessary so his administration “can start cultivating the capacity of [our] people and [our] institutions to brace the impact of globalization.”
The proposed budget puts a premium on health programs, education programs, and in agriculture as the people’s main income generator.
By and large, the proposed budget is “bent on sustaining viable programs that have been proven effective in the past and those that need recalibrations in the light of the current situation.”
Slicing the budget pie, 54 per cent (P423,149,961) shall go to general public services to sustain the minimum basic needs programs, drug abuse prevention program, provincial scholarship program, Madrasa program, among others. Another 21 per cent (P166,146,554) shall be allotted for economic services that are mostly agriculture assistance and environment-related programs. To promote public health and social welfare, approximately P16 million, and P2 million, are earmarked, respectively.
The governor is confident that his proposed budget has a solid financial backing, citing the 7.0 per cent increase in the provincial income due to efficient tax collection efforts of his finance team.
He is confident that the private sector will come in to engage in partnerships and resources-sharing while doing business.
The budget preparation has undergone several steps, including prior consultations among private organizations and NGOs represented at the Provincial Development Council.
