P651M of Ilocos Norte’s proposed 2022 budget earmarked for healthcare

Ilocos Norte provincial capitol. (Photo courtesy of Ilocos Norte provincial government)

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte—A huge chunk of the proposed P2.429-billion budget of Ilocos Norte in 2022 was set aside for the province to improve its health care services, the provincial government said Thursday, Dec. 2.

On Nov. 29, the Ilocos Norte provincial board had approved on third and final reading the provincial appropriation ordinance no. 2021-10-084 which carried Ilocos Norte government’s proposed 2022 budget amounting to a total of P2,428,711,157.64.

The 2022 proposed budget of the province was 26.32-percent higher than its approved budget this year which amounted to P1.9-billion.

At least P651-million was earmarked for the “maintenance and improvement of government-run hospitals in Ilocos Norte,” getting the highest bulk in the province’s annual budget.

Aside from upgrading the province’s healthcare services amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual budget would also ensure the “revitalization of the tourism industry in the province, investing in livelihood programs, sustaining the environment, and supporting agriculture.”

About P21.6-million was also appropriated for the province’s “greening projects and assistance programs” and P5 million was earmarked for the financial aid of uninsured farmers and raisers whose hogs were culled due to African swine fever.

The provincial government also set aside about P55 million for the province’s “aggressive job-creation campaign.”

According to the provincial government, the mandated five-percent local disaster risk reduction and management fund would cover “P112 million emergency relief operations and P35.6 million for the procurement of COVID-19 and other infectious disease response logistics,” according to the provincial government.