Camacho focuses on infra despite lower budget

By Mortz C. Ortigoza BAYAMBANG – Despite a reduced proposed budget of P147 million, the mayor implemented high impact social projects this year to better serve his constituents. Dr. Romulo Velasquez, this first class town administrator, said the administration of Mayor Ricardo Camacho while the town was not been spared by the reduction of the Internal Revenue Allotment by the Department of Budget & Management, projects have been in the pipeline after the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) and the mayor approved and signed into law the P147 million appropriations for the year. He said the projects to be funded by the proposed appropriations are needed infrastructures like the drainage systems, delivery of basic services and support to education, agriculture, health, and other programs. Arturo Mandapat, treasurer of San Carlos City and the town of Urbiztondo, explained that the reduction of the IRA like what happened in this town hinges on the event that the national government incurs an unmanageable public sector deficit, the president of the Philippines is authorized, upon the recommendation of Secretary of Finance, Secretary of Interior and Local Government and Secretary of Budget and Management, to reduce IRA of towns. “This is subject to consultation with the presiding officers of both houses of Congress and the presidents of the Liga to make the necessary adjustments in the IRA of local government units but in no case shall the allotment be less than thirty percent (30%) of the collection of national internal revenue taxes of the third fiscal year preceding the current fiscal year,” Mandapat explained. Meanwhile, Velasquez said he was not privy on how much loan this town has contracted with lending institutions. He said it was the Local Finance Committee which can divulge the amount of the loan. He said nevertheless the SB has approved a loan before for the Camacho administration to use for a certain project.