Mayor Abby signs Makati’s R18-B budget for 2020

The Makati City government approved on Thursday the city’s more than R18billion budget for 2020, with the Social Development Sector getting the biggest allocation.

The public information office (PIO) said almost 50 percent or some R8.07 billion from the total R18,047,460 budget will be allocated for social services.

Under Social Development, projects on health will get the largest share with about R5.2 billion. It is followed by education subsector with R1.43 billion, and social welfare with R1.37 billion.

Makati Mayor Abigail “Abby” Binay said that the sector gets the biggest budget as their “goal is to provide citizens with fast and free access to quality health care, education, and social services which are indispensable to their overall development.”

Binay added that the city government has also adhered to its “people-first” principle, while also exerting efforts to accelerate the city’s digital transformation through embracing modern technology.

The PIO said that major health programs lined up for next year under the Makati Health Department, include drug subsidy, communicable disease prevention and control, maternal and child care program, comprehensive dental health program, and environmental health and sanitation program.

A total of R2.21 billion has been allotted for patients care and other related programs for the Ospital ng Makati, and a combined total of R12.10 million for major programs of the Makati Veterinary Services Department for Animal Health and related public health initiatives.

For the education sub-sector, major programs of the education department, include talent optimization program for students, Makatizen Scholarship program, SPEED for Special Education (SPED), assistance to SPED students, alternative learning system, and Gawad Parangal. SPEED is a work immersion program for SPED learners.

The University of Makati (UMak), meanwhile, has designated R60.36 million for its student development program, R24.3 million for student resources enhancement program, R11.69 million for educational excellence program, R6.7 million for information technology (IT) projects, and R2.97 million for the Makati training placement and livelihood consortia.

Under the social welfare, cash gifts of senior citizens and centenarians, and burial assistance and registration under the Blu Card program will have R338.76-million budget; while R94.27 million for other Blu Card benefits, which include free movies, cakes on their birthdays and golden wedding anniversary, and free tours.

Other major social welfare programs include Makati Lingkod Bayan Caravan, informal settlements reduction and management, universal health insurance, disaster relief assistance and person with disabilities (PWDs), and welfare and social enhancement, the PIO added.