MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/05 October) – Confronted by a substantial cut in the province’s internal revenue allotment, Bukidnon Gov. Alex Calingasan has proposed a P1.330-billion budget for 2012, almost P50 million less than this year’s budget of P1.379 billion.
The provincial government, which received an internal revenue allotment of P1.311 billion in 2011, will receive only P1.249 billion next year or P62.2 million less, due to the five-percent shortfall in the national revenue in 2009, which is the basis for the computation of the IRA for 2012.
The local government units in Bukidnon will lose a total of P213.8 million, according to a memorandum circular released recently by Budget and Management Secretary Florencio B. Abad.
In contrast, the province only expects a P5.23-million increase in total tax revenues and a P1.5-million increase in non-tax revenues, in addition to the P6-million incentive from the Australian Agency for International Development through its Philippines Roads Management Facility.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan announced it will hold marathon committee hearings on the budget from October 5-18, board member Nemesio Beltran Jr. said.
The biggest chunk of the proposed 2012 budget, P392.99 million or 29.54 percent, goes to general public services.
P383.98 million or 28.88 percent will go to statutory and mandatory obligations such as loans, and P164.50 million or 12.40 percent to economic services.
Social services account for 14.55 percent or P193.51 million of the proposed budget.
The SP has failed to agree on the budget despite having held extensive hearings and deliberations. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)
