Laoag, Batac councils pass 2020 budget

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff Reporter

Laoag City—As “active tools in achieving inclusive growth for reform and development”, the Laoag and Batac Sangguniang Panlungsod have approved their annual budgets for CY 2020: PHP928,331,364.63 and PHP736,647,586.14, respectively.

The annual budget approval is in pursuant to Section 318 of Republic Act No. 7160, the Local Government Code of 1991, and Local Budget Memorandum No. 78 of the Department of Budget and Management.

On December 10, 2019, the Laoag Sangguniang Panlungsod unanimously approved the budget authored by Laoag councilor Handy T. Lao, chairperson of the committee on budget and appropriations.

Laoag Mayor Michael Marcos-Keon said that the budget was prepared with a thorough review and evaluation of the proposals submitted by the different offices of the city.

Mr. Marcos-Keon said the city adopted the mechanism of “participatory budgeting to ensure prudent, transparent and accountable allocation and use of the public funds to improve the quality of life of each of every Laoagueño”.

He further stated that the budget was “linked to harmonize plans and policies in order to optimize the utilization of the city’s limited resources”.

The city government aims to achieve its goals and objectives particularly on priority projects that focuses on infrastructure, health, agriculture, tourism and sports that will empower the people of Laoag City to synchronize with the city government’s thrust for a “Baro a Laoag, Mr. Marcos-Keon said.

This year’s budget increased by PHP48 million compared to the 2019 annual budget of PHP879,951,091.97.

The city government expects to attain this year’s objectives to increase the per capita income by a realistic percentage, provide accessibility to all basic needs and services especially the poor and the marginalized Laoagueño, provide expanded employment opportunities by inviting more investors, implementation of infra projects, enhance delivery of health care services and increase agricultural productivity.

For the coming year, the city government will focus on revenue-generating measures that includes the enhancement of tax collection via vigorous tax information campaign, intensifying tax collection efforts and analyzing of collection trends.

The salaries and wages of the city officials and employees for 2020 will be maintained since the fourth tranche of the Salary Standardization Law has already been implemented.

The clothing allowance of PHP6,000 city employees and the RATA of officials, department heads and assistant department heads will remain and implemented to include the hazard pay of the public health workers and public social workers.

Step increments based on length of service will also be provided for appointive officials and employees who are appointed on a permanent status in the career and non-career service for every 3 years of continuous satisfactory service in their respective positions.

The budgets for the operation of the economic enterprises like the Laoag City General Hospital, Market, Slaughter House and Central Terminal are being funded from their respective incomes. 

Based on the budget, the Office of the Mayor has the largest amount appropriated with PHP72,859,844.16; followed by the city engineering, city general services, city health, SP-Legislative and the CSWD offices.

While the least amount appropriated in the 2020 annual budget are the offices of the city cemetery, environment, IT, city administrator, media and PDAO.

Under the Special Purpose Appropriations, the City Development Plan has the largest budgeted amount of PHP124 million followed by the Gender and Development (GAD), Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and the subsidy to the LCGH (social services).

The city government also appropriated subsidies to national agencies including the BJMP, BFP, PNP, office of the city auditor, RTC, MTC, city prosecutor, PAO, DILG and NBI.

Likewise, aids to the Barangays CADAC, ABC, SK, SPED assessment and local & national election were also given appropriations.

Batac also passes 2020 budget

On December 8, 2019, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Batac likewise approved their annual budget of PHP736,647,586.14. It has an increase of PHP159 million from the 2019 annual budget of PHP576,809,715.

The ordinance was authored by all members of the Sanggunian as manifested by Batac councilor Bernan Marders being the main sponsor and chairman of the committee on finance.

Prior to its final approval, Mr. Marders said that a series of budget hearings were conducted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod, Local Finance Committee and the Department Heads in charged.

It was learned that the proposed budget was submitted on time by the executive department headed by mayor Albert D. Chua before the October 16, 2019 deadline as prescribed by law.