SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – Antique Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao vetoed the PHP1.19-billion executive budget of the province that was recently approved by the Provincial Board and forwarded to her office on March 8.
In a press conference on Monday, Cadiao said she believed the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) would not approve the budget once it is submitted for review.
She pointed out that the approved budget did not comply with the required 20-percent development fund.
Under Section 287 of the Local Government Code, the LGU should appropriate in its annual budget not less than 20 percent of its Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) specifically for development projects.
“The provincial board slashing of the budget has only left 10.40 percent as development fund,” Cadiao said.
Slashed by the provincial board included allotments for construction of the Binirayan Hostel, expansion of the Padlusan Adventure Amenities and environment sanitation project.
The governor also said there were other items under her office and department offices of the provincial government which budget were slashed by the provincial board.
Meanwhile, the provincial board, in slashing the development fund, claimed it was not included in the Annual Investment Plan.
The governor said, however, that in the previous Joint Consultative Meeting of the Committee on Finance and Appropriations of the provincial board and the Local Finance Committee under the Office of the Governor, projects under the development fund were already agreed to be incorporated in the plan. (PNA)
