P1.7 billion Mandaue city budget passes first reading

THE Mandaue City Council  has approved on first reading Mayor Jonas Cortes’s proposed P1.7-billion budget for 2013.

City Councilor Beethoven Andaya, chairman of the budget committee, said the  2013 proposed annual budget will still be deliberated   before  second reading in the second week of November.

The proposed budget for 2013 is  slightly higher than the current year’s  P1.6 billion budget.

The general fund accounts for the biggest category at P1.47 billion.

A mandatory 20 percent development fund sets aside P89.6 million.

Public markets will require P91.8 million; the slaughterhouse – P19 million; the Mandaue City Hospital – P48.3 million and the Mandaue City Sports Complex – P7.15 million.

Andaya said the council will hear the sentiments of department heads who earlier submitted draft budgets.

Andaya said that the total amount of P,730,556,392.02 for the executive budget would not be changed and that any adjustments to be made would involve  inter-department  funds.

“There is a need to deliberate on the budget because we are interested to hear the department heads. What we approve may not be what they proposed,” he said.

Andaya cited the public market whose chief is asking for an additional P1.5 million for the overtime pay of  employees and P1 million for the maintenance of the new public market.

The City Engineering Office has a higher budget request this year due to  road maintenance and drainage projects for  next year, said Andaya.