Pasig and Manila sign 2020 budgets

MANILA, Philippines — Pasig and Manila have approved their respective budgets for 2020, allocating most of their funds for health and social services.

In a Facebook post on Friday, Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto said the city had approved its P12 billion budget.

Sotto said 21% of the city budget had been allocated for health care.

“Drastic changes! Pinaka malaking itinaas mula 2019 ay ang pondo para sa HEALTHCARE — tungo sa serbisyo pangkalusugan na abot-kamay para sa bawat isa,” Sotto said.

[Drastic changes! The biggest change from the 2019 budget is the funding for health care — aimed at providing health services that everyone can afford.]

Only 11% was earmarked for repair and maintenance in infrastructure projects, Sotto said.

He said the city government would have to implement reforms before allocating a large chunk of the budget to its operations.

Manila signs almost P18 billion 2020 budget

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno also signed Ordinance No. 8585, the capital city’s P17.8-billion budget.

Forty-eight percent, or P8.5 billion, will be allocated to the local government’s social services.

Of the P8.5 billion, P1.8 billion was allocated for the city’s social amelioration program.

The 2020 budget provided over P300 million for the Universidad de Manila and over P145 million for the Pamantasang Lungsod ng Maynila.

The Department of Engineering and Public Works received the highest budget allocation of  P1.8 billion, followed by Office of the Mayor with P1.7 billion.

The Health Department has P1.3 billion, the Department of Public Services P1.2 billion, and the Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center P1 billion.

/atm