TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- The provincial government of Cagayan submitted its P3.4-billion proposed budget for the year 2018 to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial board).
The provincial finance committee handed over the proposal to Vice Governor Melvin Vargas Jr on Thursday, October 19, the same day Super Typhoon Lawin devastated the province a year ago.
The proposal for the second year of Governor Manuel Mamba was submitted as the 2017 budget has yet to clear hurdles before the mostly-opposition provincial board.
In a press release, the Cagayan public information office said the total amount of the proposed budget is P3,433,509,169.25, about 52% higher than the P1.18 billion 2017 budget.
Mamba urged the provincial board to scrutinize the proposal as he stressed that it contains his administration’s priority development projects and programs.
In his proposal, Mamba asked for the funding of bridges, roads and his local government units and barangays (villages) assistance programs.
The proposed assistance programs will give P3 million discretionary funds to municipalities and cities while barangays will receive P500, 000 each.
The provincial board only passed the Provincial Development Investment Plan (PDIP) of the Mamba administration on October 4 after months of deliberation.
The delayed passage of the budget prompted word war between the local executive and lawmaking body, with Mamba accusing the provincial board of “politicking.”
The provincial board replied saying the ball was on Mamba’s hand for submitting the PDIP, the Annual Investment Plans, and the budget 4 months late.
Mamba also filed and won a petition for mandamus before the Regional Trial Court in Tuguegarao asking the provincial board not to include any matter in their agenda except for the budget.
He also filed administrative charges against 10 members of the provincial board for remanding the PDIP. Vargas, however, shrugged off the charges saying, “it doesn’t bother us.” Reports from Raymon Dullana and Gerard Lucena/Northernforum.net
