BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The provincial government has approved more than P1.4 billion for its Local Expenditure Program this year.
Gov. Carlos Padilla said the bulk of the LEP will be spent on infrastructure projects and social services, while they pursue streamlining government operations to make service delivery more efficient.
“In this way, we give our people the best value for every peso we collect and spend,” he said.
Padilla said the provincial government’s finances are in a much better shape due to the updating of outdated tax rates and increased collection from investment projects.
He said the LEP will be rolled out for the implementation of the provincial government’s 2018 Annual Investment Plan, which seeks to increase forestlands with tree cover, households that practice zero solid waste management, conservation and protection of the cave systems and regulation of all mine and quarry operations, improved efficiency and effectiveness of government delivery systems, crops productivity, lower the cost of production and increase small farmers’ income.
Padilla also said the provincial government will enhance the productivity of out of school youths and excel in sports competitions, improve enrolment, participation and schools’ achievement rate, broader access to social welfare services, improve peace and order, and promote safety.
It also aims to increase access to quality farm to market roads, all weather provincial roads and robust infrastructures which support health, tourism, agriculture and administrative services, enhanced arts and preserved cultural practices and empowered indigenous peoples and pursue the achievement of the Health Millennium Development Goals and reduce housing backlogs, among others.
More than P225 million or 20 percent of the IRA has been allotted for the province’s development fund, divided into P85 million for improvement of provincial roads, P48 million for road concreting, P12 million for road rehabilitation and improvement, P15 million for road maintenance, and P10 million for the acquisition of heavy equipment.
“A part of this budget is also our support fund for the Conditional Matching Grant for the Provinces by the Department of Interior and Local Government,” Padilla said.
He also said P17.3 million is also set aside for the establishment of the Nueva Vizcaya Organic Agriculture Farm School, development and rehabilitation of the Polloc Hatchery Farm Facility, FMRs and improvement of communal irrigation systems in the province.
“We will also improve tourism and culture. We will pursue the establishment of center for culture and arts and further improvement of the Lower Magat Eco-Tourism Park in Diadi town,” Padilla said.
The provincial government also allotted P7.5 million for various environmental projects, programs and activities, focusing on reforestation and zero waste management activities such as provision of vermicomposting facilities and other climate change resiliency projects.
The provincial government also approved P65.7 million to fund projects on hospital service delivery, upgrading of hospital equipment, lot acquisition for expansion and construction and rehabilitation of child day care and development center.
Padilla said the estimated revenue from locally-managed hospitals as one of its investment projects this year is at P224 million, over P40 million real property tax, P1.1 million shares from national wealth, P2.5 million interest income, more than P49 million general income and more than P1.1 billion Internal Revenue Allotment.