SP-Koronadal Approves P1.3B Annual Budget for 2023
The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Koronadal has unanimously approved on third and final reading the One Billion Three Hundred Forty-Nine Million Thirteen Thousand Three Hundred Eight Billion Pesos (P1,349,013,308.00) Annual Budget for Calendar Year 2023 during the conduct of its last week’s special session.
The original proposal of One Billion Three Hundred Fifty Million Two Hundred Twenty-Eight Thousand Three Hundred Eight Pesos (P1,350,228,308.00) was cut due to the reduction of Four Hundred Sixty-Five Thousand Pesos (P465,000.00) from the budget of the City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office and the Sanggunian Kabataan Incentive of Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (P750,000.00), with a total amount of One Million Two Hundred Fifteen Thousand Pesos (P1,215,000.00).
This year’s Annual Budget has decreased compared to last year due to the 20% reduction in the National Tax Allotment.
The budget for 2023 includes funding for the creation of 99 plantilla positions before the end of 2022. It also covers the fourth tranche of the salary standardization law’s implementation.
Also, there is an average 20% reduction from 2022 operating expenses in various offices, with exemptions for social and health services. Meanwhile, all priority projects included in the budget were part of the approved Total Resource Annual Investment Plan.
With the swift approval of the budget, City Councilor Ellen Grace Subere-Albios, Chairperson of the Committee on Finance, Budget, and Appropriation, expressed her gratitude towards her colleagues for their valuable contributions and support, especially during the conduct of budget hearings, until the passage of the General Fund and Special Account Calendar Year 2023 Annual Budget.
“Thank you all so much for your support”, Councilor Albios said after the presiding officer, Vice Mayor Erlinda Araquil, banged the gavel, signaling the approval of the said budget.
With its approval, the SP has successfully met its deadline to finish the budget deliberations before the end of November 2022. The Finance Committee set the timeline earlier because they want to finish it as soon as possible so that they can tackle other upcoming measures, particularly the supplemental budgets.
The series of budget hearings conducted by the Committee on Finance ran from November 7, 2022, until the evening of November 10, 2022. The scheduled hearings were attended by the members of the finance committee, the department heads or their authorized representatives, as well as the program holders.
Prior to the budget deliberations on second and third readings, Councilor Annabelle G. Pingoy, a member of the Finance Committee and a member of the minority bloc, manifested her misgivings over the premature presentation of the committee report as well as the swift consideration of the measure on second and third reading.
“I am not in disagreement with the approval of the Annual Budget. I have misgivings on the way the Annual Budget was handled especially towards the end of the budget hearing and in the rendering of the Committee Report.”, Pingoy said.
Councilor Pingoy added that the committee should have convened for the summary and finalization of the said budget prior to the presentation of the committee report and its final approval at the plenary.
As a member of the committee, Councilor Pingoy has religiously attended the earlier part of the budget hearings but was not able to join the last day due to an equally important commitment that was agreed upon by the committee. Hence, her reservation during the rendering of the committee report and her manifestation during the deliberation of the budget on second and third reading.
On the other hand, Councilor Mark Lapidez probed the increase of the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) of the Executive Department, particularly the budget under the consultation dialogue. This led him to make a motion reducing Two Million Pesos (P2,000,000.) from the proposed amount and retaining last year’s budget.
However, Councilor Albios objected to Lapidez’s motion, which resulted in the division of the house. With seven (7) votes against four (4), and one (1) abstention, Councilor Lapidez’s motion was defeated.
The seven SP members who voted against the motion were Councilors Albios, Ma. Ester Catorce, Sharmaigne Arianne Sala, Charene Kristelle Jumilla, Bernardo Hinay, John Rey Rodriguez and ABC President Gregorio Presga. While four (4) members coming from the minority bloc composed of Councilors Lapidez, Pingoy, Handel Dee Cubilo and Francis Ross Dideles, have voted in favor of the motion. Councilor Antonio Abing, the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative, abstained.
Despite the number of queries and clarifications, Councilor Albios was able to answer all questions and finally approve the budget.
This year’s approved Annual Budget of P1,349,013,308.00 has decreased by almost P200,000.00 compared to the 2022 budget. Despite its decrease, this year’s budget has focused on health and social services.
The City Health Office will receive a total of P67,839,395.00, which includes the budgets for the Bayanihan sa Barangay Medical Mission and District Health Clinic of P1,000,000.00 and P1,550,000.00 respectively.
The City Social Welfare and Development Office received a budget of P29,586,388.00 for next year, inclusive of the total programs and projects of P17,175,705.00.
Meanwhile, despite the defeated motion of Councilor Lapidez, the Finance Committee Chair, Councilor Albios, agreed to put a caveat on the ordinance that all statutory ordinances that were not appropriated be given priority on the next supplemental budgets.