The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod approved on first, second and third reading the proposed 2008 Annual Budget of P1 billion of the city submitted by Mayor Evelio Leonardia, subject to certain colatillas, or conditions.

It also approved on first, second and third reading an appropriation ordinance augmenting the amount of P27.9 million for the extra cash gift of the regular and plantilla casual employees of the city, to be taken from the item “personal services” savings of the various offices of the city.

Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson yesterday said the old employees, as well as, the members of the SP will get P12,000 each since they were earlier given P5,000 as mid-year bonus, while the new employees including the SP will receive P17,000 each.

The city has about 2,256 regular and plantilla casual employees.

Meanwhile, the 2008 Annual Budget was approved subject to the condition that the Gender and Development fund under the Office of the City Mayor shall be supplemented within the early part of 2008 with an amount not lower than P500 million to augment the same existing items in the General Fund through a supplemental budget or inclusion in the Annual Investment Plan as proposed by Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue.

The ordinance addressing priority concerns of the city such as Information and Communications Technology programs, informal sector programs and all other sectors covered by all other ordinances of the SP shall be funded through supplemental budget or inclusion in the AIP for 2008 and shall include paragraph 6.6 of the Department of Budget and Management which mandate projects, programs and activities to be covered in the Gender and Development plan.

Councilor Greg Gasataya also proposed that the list of projects and programs to be recommended by the City Development Council should be subject to the approval of the SP before implementation.

Leonardia said the 2008 annual budget he submitted to the SP shows an increase of P245 million from that of 2007. That is a 32 percent increase, which is unprecedented, he said.

“When I started, we had a budget of P634 million and we targeted to double the budget within our term,” Leonardia said. “That makes us the number one city in Western Visayas in terms of the budget,” he said, adding that the city is “back on track” in WV.

Leonardia had earlier said that the city will have a budget which is 52 percent local income and 48 percent Internal Revenue Allotment.

He thanked Sayson, Councilor Al Victor Espino, the members of the SP and the finance committee for their support and cooperation.

On the other hand, newly-elected Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president Councilor Daniel Kevin Ramos was appointed by the SP as chairman of the Committee on SK Affairs and Sport, and History and Culture. The committee was previously chaired by his predecessor, Marx Louie de la Rosa.*CGS

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