TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- After deliberating for months, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cagayan has approved the Provincial Development Investment Plan 2017-2022 with reservations on Wednesday, October 4.
In the 57th Regular Session, the board adopted the committee report of the Committee on Finance and Appropriations chaired by Vice-Governor Melvin Vargas, Jr.
This is yet the farthest move into approving the 2017 budget of the administration of Governor Manuel Mamba.
The committee recommended for the PDIP’s approval but with reservation, citing specific allocations such as prioritization of “questionable” projects and the certain appropriations.
This comes after the Provincial Development Council clarified in a previous session that the original PDIP will be the basis of the board’s discussion on the budget.
Having adopted the committee report, the board recommended some considerstions such as the revival of the closed district hospitals and separation of barangay scholarship funds from the line budget.
The board will now turn its attention to the discussion of the Annual Investment Plan which is the a prerequisite in deliberating and finally approving the 2017 annual budget.
Vargas said the board will conduct non-stop “marathon” of committee hearings on the AIP and budget.
He said the board will invite department heads who must justify their programs under the plan. Northernforum.net
