PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija , Philippines – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved here the proposed P1.8-billion 2011 budget for Nueva Ecija which, the provincial government said, would ensure delivery of basic services to many Novo Ecijanos.
In what appears to be a Christmas gift to Gov. Aurelio Umali, Vice Gov. Jose Gay Padiernos, SP presiding officer, said the budget proposal submitted by the office of Umali, was adopted by the SP without major cuts.
It marked the first time in three years that the annual budget of the province was approved. The budgets for 2007, 2008 and 2009 were re-enacted after the Umali administration and the SP, then led by vice governor Edward Thomas Joson got locked up in a stalemate over the various items in the proposal.
Umali said the 60-page budget proposal is a declaration of the provincial government’s determination to lay a strong foundation for a greater and more progressive Nueva Ecija. He said funds were committed for the programs, projects and activities of the various sectors to make the budget an instrument for the economic and social upliftment of the people of Nueva Ecija.
Padiernos, too, said the approved budget, which went through a two-month deliberation, was a manifestation of the unified leadership at the Capitol wherein the governor and the vice governor work as a team. “As you can see, the vice governor and the SP are working harmoniously with the governor and it makes for an efficient governance in terms of the expeditious approval of the budget for the sake of many Novo Ecijanos,” he said.
Board member Joseph Ortiz, chairman of the SP committee on finance and appropriations, said the executive budget went through a thorough deliberation with concerned offices/departments and consultations with citizens to reach an equitable allocation of resources and ensure an efficient and effective delivery of basic services.
He stressed that the approved budget centered on the Annual Investment Plan involving at least P258 million covering economic and social services among others.
He said that with the budget, they expect the province to provide accessibility to all basic needs and services, increase agricultural productivity and enhance delivery of healthcare services and provide expanded employment opportunities to urban poor residents.
The provincial government is expecting to raise for the budget year local internal and external revenues, including P1.29 billion as internal revenue allotment shares and sources from the share of national wealth, grants and donations, sale of assets and share from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.