Makati OKs P18B budget for 2020; health, social dev’t get biggest chunk

MANILA, Philippines — The Makati government has allocated the biggest share of its 2020 budget to health care and social development services.

In a statement on Friday, Makati Mayor Abby Binay signed its 2020 budget worth P18,047,460,000 after the local government’s city council approved the measure on third and final reading.

Makati City’s Social Development Sector received the highest allocation with P8.07 billion or 44.7 percent of the 2020 budget, followed by health care services with P5.26 billion.

The local government provided the third highest allocation of its budget to education.

Social services sector

Under social welfare services, Makati City allocated P338.76 million for cash gifts of senior citizens and centenarians, burial assistance, and registration for Blu Card Program.

Another P94.27 million was allocated for other Blu Card beneficiaries including free movies, cakes on their birthdays and golden wedding anniversary.

Other notable social welfare programs include Makati Lingkod Bayan Caravan, which got P16.81 million; Informal Settlements Reduction and Management with P14.34 million; Universal Health Insurance with P70 million; Disaster Relief Assistance with P10.53 million; and PWD Welfare and Social Enhancement with P10.81 million.

Health care

Makati government’s health program on Drug Subsidy or Libreng Gamot para sa Mamamayan received P1.27 billion while Communicable Disease Prevention and Control got P104.94 million.

Other health programs of Makati City include Maternal and Child Care Program, which will receive P12.03 million; Comprehensive Dental Health Program with P10.41 million; and Environmental Health and Sanitation Program with P7.33 million.

The government allotted P2.21 billion for Ospital ng Makati’s Patients Care and other related programs while Makati Veterinary Services Department for Animal Health will receive P12.10 million.

Education

For Makati’s major programs for Education Department, the Talent Optimization Program for Students has P12.21 million; Makatizen Scholarship Program, P5.6 million; SPEED for SPED (Special Education), P8.55 million; assistance to SPED students, P4.5 million; Alternative Learning System, P10.14 million; and Gawad Parangal, P26.80 million.

Makati government further earmarked P60.36 million for the University of Makati’s Student Development Program; P24.3 million for Student Resources Enhancement Program; P11.69 million for Educational Excellence Program; P6.7 million for IT projects; and P2.97 million for the Makati Training Placement and Livelihood Consortia.

Edited by KGA