Leyte approves PHP7.1-B investment plan for 2017

TACLOBAN CITY, Sept. 30 (PNA) – Leyte province has approved its PHP7.1 billion annual investment plan for 2017 during the recent Provincial Development Council Meeting.

The AIP constitutes the indicative yearly expenditure requirements of the local government unit for programs, projects and activities, consisting of the annual capital expenditure and the regular operating requirements of the province for personal services, maintenance and other operating expenditure 

(MOOE), capital outlay, statutory and contractual obligations and other budgetary requirements.

The AIP also contains the programs, projects and activities that will be funded by the Special Education Fund (SEF) of Leyte province.

It was noted during the meeting that the AIP is no longer limited to programs, projects and activities that will be funded by the province’s local development fund which is 20 percent of the annual internal revenue allotment (IRA).

Hugging most of the cost for next year’s plan is on economic services which amount to PHP4.3 billion. Also, budgeted for social services is PHP1.5 billion; general public services PHP1.2 billion; and, special education fund PHP70 million.

Basic road infrastructure and village public facilities were among those allotted with the budget, while equipments and hospital upgrading, particularly the Leyte Provincial Hospital through the provincial health office was also funded.

Meanwhile, the Leyte Sports Academy, the grassroots sports development program of the province will have its own funds in 2017.

Also included in the plan are disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) programs, projects and activities that include engineering and infrastructure interventions on identified risk areas; conduct of trainings on disaster preparedness and search and retrieval operations; stockpiling of emergency supplies; rehabilitation and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure and evacuation centers, and quick response services

Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla said the DRRM programs and projects have been identified and are needed in the province’s continuing efforts of building a disaster-resilient and climate change-resilient province.

Funding for the AIP shall be sourced from the general fund of the province, 20 percent of the annual IRA, special education fund and other sources.

“It’s a big investment for next and we will work doubly hard to accomplish all that we have set for ourselves and hopefully these plans can work towards the upliftment of the lives of our people,” Petilla said.

Also approved during the meeting was the supplemental PHP6 billion annual investment program for this year. (PNA)
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