Talisay Council OKs P888M annual budget

THE Talisay City Council yesterday approved the 2017 budget without any cut.

Unlike what happened during the administration of former mayor Johnny De los Reyes, the proposed budget amounting to P888 million submitted by Mayor Eduardo Gullas was approved as is.

Of the approved budget for next year, more than P104.2 million will be dedicated to various infrastructure projects, including P20 million for the construction and rehabilitation of local roads and bridges.

At least P13 million was also set aside for the construction of manpower development centers in the city. Gullas earlier vowed to establish a technical-vocational school in Barangay Lagtang.

Other projects that will be covered in the P104.2 million include the construction or rehabilitation of rural health units and the purchase of medical equipment worth P5 million, rehabilitation of cultural and historical sites worth P5 million, and rehabilitation of the city’s sanitary landfill amounting to P10 million.

Wages

The 2017 budget also included an appropriation of P93.7 million for the salaries and wages of regular employees.

The City Council during their regular session yesterday also approved the P15 million appropriation for Gullas’ confidential expenses.

They also approved at least P15 million for the Legislative Assistance Financial Fund (LAFF), which is intented for projects being sponsored by the legislative department for the city’s 22 barangays.

This despite Gullas’ earlier announcement of his plan to abolish the LAFF as it is similar with the Priority Development Assistance Fund, which has been abolished during the administration of former president Benigno Aquino III.

During the stint of de los Reyes, he introduced the LAFF as a way for city councilors to fund infrastructure, sociocultural and developmental projects in the barangays.

When de los Reyes’ relationship with the City Council got soured, the LAFF was eventually withheld.

Councilor Richard Francis Aznar, who chairs the committee on budget and appropriation, clarified that the new administration has resumed implementation of the LAFF but its use is still subject to auditing rules and regulations.

Aznar said that they will still be able to endorse projects from the barangays, but it will be up to Gullas to use the LAFF or not.