Toledo Council approves P1.2B budget for 2018
Job-order worker James Leo Piala can finally pay for the christening of his newborn child next month.
Piala and other employees of Toledo City Hall were present when the City Council approved yesterday the City’s annual budget of P1.2 billion, including the salaries and wages of more than 900 job-order workers.
The budget was approved shortly after the City temporarily let go of 106 job-order workers assigned to the Toledo City Hospital last week.
Following the approval of the annual budget, acting Toledo City Mayor Antonio Yapha Jr. will issue an order reinstating the 106 job-order workers of the city hospital.
During their regular session at 2 p.m. Monday, nine members of the City Council led by acting Vice Mayor Marjorie Perales im- mediately passed the proposed annual budget of P1.2 billion, upon the recommendation of Councilor Merly Abad.
At least P1 billion is dedicated to the General Fund, along with P223 million for the salaries and benefits of the city’s regular employees. Around P200 million is allocated for Special Accounts, which includes P39 million for Toledo City Hospital’s operations.
Before the annual budget was approved for third and final reading, Toledo City Councilor Arlene Zambo recommended that around P1 million be realigned from the annual budget for medical missions. Zambo recommended splitting the amount and allocating it to the city’s nutrition, anti-dengue, and anti-stray dog programs.
Abad, who is the acting chairperson of the committee on budget and appropriations, said they started deliberations on the pro-