Dagupan SP approves 2016 budget

DAGUPAN CITY – Mayor Belen T. Fernandez renewed the contract of all emergency workers giving priority to those who volunteered to work for two weeks without pay while the 2016 budget was not approved yet.

Mayor Belen Fernandez

 

Fernandez made the move after the Sangguniang Panlungsod unanimously approved on Tuesday the P768 million Annual Budget of the city for 2016.

Fernandez  disclosed that the city’s 500 scholars can now pay their tuition fee in time for their examinations, while the City Engineering Office can now start the city’s flood mitigation projects and other programs of work. At the same time, the delivery of city’s social services is now assured.

With the passage of the annual budget, regular employees of the city government will also receive an 11 percent increase in their salaries effective January 1.

 

“The salary increase is in recognition of the valuable efforts, contribution and notable services of the regular employees to the city. It is in fact a humble way of expressing our gratitude to their dedication, commitment and untiring service to our beloved city,” said Fernandez.

 

Volunteer workers will also receive an increase in their allowance.

 

The P768 million budget will be realized from the city’s local tax revenue and non-tax revenue in the amount of P286,500,000 and P69,155,000 respectively; and from its external sources like its share from the national tax collection, the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) in the amount of P411,151,465 and its share from government-owned and controlled corporations like the Philippine Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in the amount of P1,193,535.

The amount will cover the general operation and maintenance of the city government broken down as follows: personal services P242,840,318.05; maintenance and other operating expenditures P338,446,831.95; capital outlay P155,882,850; and financial expenses P30,830,000.

 

Mayor Fernandez is happy and thankful that the budget was finally approved by the members of the city council and expressed hopes that the next budget be approved in time.

 

The 2016 Annual Budget was submitted to the Sangguniang Panlungsod on October 15, 2014 after it was presented to the Local Development Council and the People's Organization which approved Bottom up Budgeting (BUB) projects.

“We did our part in submitting our budget on time to give them (SP) ample time to study and to approve it before the end of the year as required by law. Nonetheless, I am pleased that the city council heeded to my appeal for the sake of every city hall employee and the people of Dagupan," said Fernandez. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO)