Provincial Board approves P12 billion budget

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Provincial Board has approved on third reading the P23 billion proposed annual budget of Cebu Province for the year 2024.

The proposed appropriation ordinance was unanimously approved by the board yesterday during the august body’s regular session.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia earlier said that P12 billion of the said proposed budget is for development programs and projects of the Province.

“We continue to invest billions on infrastructure projects to maximize our economic potential and health services,” Garcia said in her message to the legislative body.

Part of the proposed budget is P3.5 billion for the road and bridge construction, improvement and rehabilitation including street lighting; P3.3 billion for the water system development program; P3.5 billion for the construction and improvement of hospitals, health facilities including the acquisition of medical supplies and equipment; another P3.8 billion allocation for the operations of hospitals and public health services.

The countryside and food sufficiency program of the Capitol will continue like the Sugbu Negosyo program, Sugbusog, Sugbu Kahanas and the Tindahan sa Kapitolyo where every program has an allocation of P100 million each for next year.

“The budget is very lean but substantial because it provides for the regular programming items of the provincial government,” said Sixth district board member and chairman of the committee on budget and appropriations Glen Anthony Soco, as quoted by Sugbo News during the session yesterday.

After the approval of the Provincial Board, the appropriation ordinance will be submitted to the Office of the Governor for approval. — (FREEMAN)