Dev’t council OKs P13.2B AIP for 2019

Around P13.2 billion allotted of Annual Investment Program (AIP) for 2019 was approved yesterday by the Cebu City Development Council (CCDC).

The amount covers around P1,181,480,943 for the Department of Engineering and Public Works, P1,037,903,380 for the Pepartment of Public Services, and P1,002,659,676.08 worth of barangay development projects under the Local Development Fund (LDF).

Some P962 million was allocated for the Department of Social Welfare Services, P582.4 million for the amortization of the loan that the City Government contracted for the South Road Properties (SRP) project, P350 million for the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, and non-office peace and order budget amounting to P202.4 million, among others.

Councilor Margarita Osmeña, head of the committee on budget and finance, said that unlike in previous years, the 2019 AIP is “more realistic.”

The AIP, though, will still have to be submitted to the City Council for scrutiny and approval to see what will be included in the 2019 annual budget.

“Of course, not all of the AIP can be accommodated in the annual budget. There are certain appropriations that we must have, like payment for the loan and our financial assistance. It’s really not an obligation but it’s a commitment on our part, for the PWD (persons with disability), senior citizens, judiciary,” Osmeña said.

The 10-page LDF contains infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects for social development, environmental management projects and economic development projects.

The LDF comprises only 20 percent of the city’s P1.9 billion worth of internal revenue allotment (IRA).

The IRA is a local government unit’s share of revenue from the National Government. /