Nearly half of Manila’s 2020 budget for social services

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso has signed the city’s P17.8-billion budget for next year, with the biggest allocation going to social services.

Of the 2020 executive budget mandated by Ordinance 858, around 48 percent or P8.5 billion would go to the social services sector covering education, medical and health services, housing and environmental programs.

The capital assistance program, under which aid is given to traders affected by clearing operations, also falls under social services.

The city also allocated over P300 million for the city-run Universidad de Manila and P145.4 million for the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

A total of P350 million would go to peace and order efforts.

By divisions, the Department of Engineering and Public Works would get the biggest slice of the pie at P1.8 billion followed by the Office of the Mayor with P1.7 billion.

Domagoso said that in previous years, the city operated at a steady P14 billion budget. For 2020, he said the city government’s target was growth. —Nikka G. Valenzuela