How municipalities fared?

I have made a study of the 77 provinces and the 115 cities in terms of the financial report of the Commission on Audit. Now, I am going into the municipalities. Some may raise a howl. But you complain to the COA. I am only reporting. I centered my studies on the municipalities of Western Visayas.

There are 115 municipalities in Region 6 or Western Visayas spread as follows: Iloilo, 42; Negros Occidental, 19; Antique, 18; Capiz and Aklan, 16 each, and Guimaras, 4.

The 10 biggest towns in Region 6 are: five in Negros which are Hinigaran, Cauayan, Calatrava, Binalbgan, and Murcia.

Three towns are included in Antique, Caluya, San Jose, and Patnongon. There is one each in Aklan and Iloilo: Kalibo, and Oton, respectively. Capiz did not have one. And so with Guimaras. But Capiz has a city, Roxas.

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Here are the top 10 towns in the region with their respective total income: 1. Kalibo P104.471 million; 2. Hinigaran, P101.377; 3. Cauayan, P101.010; 4. Calatrava, P100.884; 5. Caluya, P93.666; 6. Binalbagan, P80.809; 7. Murcia, P76.322; 8. San Jose, P73.900; 9. Patnongon, P72.366; and 10. Oton, P72.078.

You don't underestimate Antique. It's a mountainous province but its towns earn well. We used to underrate it as the source of migrant workers in Negros, the sacadas. Now, Antique opens opportunities for investments. Caluya is a mining town. It is an island.

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Here are the top 10 municipalities of Negros with their respective total income: 1. Hinigaran, P101.477; 2. Cauayan, P101.010; 3. Calatrava, P100.884; 4. Binalbagan, P80.847; 5. Murcia, P78.322; 6. La Castellana, P66.588; 7. Hinoba-an, P65.888; 8. E.B. Magalona, P63.555; 9. Ilog, P59.688; and 10. Valladolid, P58.647.

Let us also have the remaining nine other Negros towns: 11. Isabela, P58.512; 12. Manapla, P56.420; 13. Pontevedra, P51.614; 14. Toboso, P48.782; 15. Moises Padilla, P45.553; 16. Pulupandan, P44.267; 17. Candoni, P39,780; 18. Salvador Benedicto, P31.735; and 19. San Enrique, P28.625.

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The 10 biggest towns of Iloilo and their respective total income: 1. Oton, P72.618; 2. Pototan, P68.925; 3. Miag-ao, P66.825; 4. Janiuay, P66.628; 5. Dumangas, P66.324; 6. Lambunao, P66.319; 7. Calinog, P63.787; 8. Sta. Barbara, P62.670; 9. Leon, P58.601; and 10. Pavia, P56.567. Figures are in millions.

The smallest town in Iloilo is San Rafael with a total income of only P19.993 million.

Which have the biggest savings? And operating on deficit? Let it be understood that when a town has no savings, it does not mean it is not operated well. The mayor may want to have all the money used. Local government units, we always say, are not for profit.

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Which towns made the biggest savings?

Here they are for the whole Region 6, computed on percentage on net income over total income: 1. Caluya, 64 percent; 2. Valladolid, 38; 3. Balete, 28; 4. Toboso, 27; 5. Malay, 24; 6. San Miguel, 23; 7. San Joaquin, 22; 9. Hinigaran, 21; and the towns of Calatrava, Dingle, and Mambusao with 20 percent savings each.

This will be a controversial one. Murcia which is the seventh biggest in West Visayas and fifth biggest in Negros Occidental had a deficit of 5 percent in its operation.

Its total income was P76.322 million with expenses of P79.946 million or a deficit of P3.624 million or 5 percent.

No. 2 is Pontevedra in Capiz with total income of P45.216M and expenses of P45.672M or deficit of P461,000 or 1 percent.

No. 3 is Pandan, Antique with income of P34.494M and expense of P34.804M or short of P310,000 or one percent.

No. 4 is Salvador Benedicto, income of P31.725M with expense of P31.804M, short of P29,000.

No. 5 is Mambusao with P48.396M income and expense of P48.398M or shot of P2,000.

I tried to check and recheck. But if you find some errors in my copying the figures, I will be happy to correct them.

Now, within your town, people can start already the debate on the pros and cons.

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The Ceneco-Kepco contract controversy will continue to be hotly debated. Let it be debated. I talked with Bobby Montelibano and he is open to a debate because he can answer all the questions.

It is not good for him not to answer all the questions. This is good for Ceneco. This is also good for him. And the Ceneco board.*

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