BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
The 2022 Executive Budget amounting to P3.250 billion will be taken up by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod in a virtual special session on November 1.
Next year’s annual budget is 25 percent higher than the current budget of P2.6 billion.
This is also the second time for Bacolod City to hit the three-billion-mark since 2020’s P3 billion.
The substantial increase in the city’s local budget is due to the implementation of the Supreme Court in the Mandanas-Garcia case, which in effect adjusted the National Tax Allotment shares (NTA) of the local government to include other national taxes such as tariff and customs duties.
In his budget message, Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the government’s focus for the 2022 budget is the improved delivery of basic services, accelerated social growth and development, continued introduction of favorable economic stimulus, and strengthened local governance.
Among the concerns highlighted in the annual budget is the prioritization of the health and safety of the citizens and the adoption of the effects of the Mandanas-Garcia case, he said.
The budget is distributed as follows: expenditure for personal services – P804,093,609; maintenance and other operating expenses – P1,597,216,327; financial expenditures – P34,222,890, preparations in relation to the pandemic and other possible calamities – P162,500,000 and P20,000,000; among others including P12,000,000 for anti-drug campaign.*
