๐๐ ๐จ๐ก๐๐ข๐กโ๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฎ ๐๐จ๐๐๐๐ง: ๐ ๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐, ๐ ๐๐๐ฑ๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐
By: Hiram Nephi A. Costales, GPC-PBO | Photos By: PBO | Date: December 2021
In alignment to the CY 2022 National Budgets overarching theme โSustaining the Legacy of Real Change for the Future Generations,โ the Province of La Union proposed its own Budget with the priorities on the Stronger La Union Roadmap on Response, Recovery, and Local Economic Development towards becoming the Heart of Agri-Tourism in Northern Luzon by 2025.
With a total budget of P2,094,486,596.00 for the General Fund and P316,056,372.00 for the Economic Enterprises, the Province of La Union continues to prioritize funding for CoViD-19 response measures that includes programs, projects and activities for healthcare development and social services. At the same time, the province is planning to implement projects to sustain Public Infrastructure investments to restore the course of its growth during pre-pandemic.
With the leverage of modernized agriculture and sustainable tourism development to improve the quality of life of the constituents, the province also allotted budget for agricultural programs and activities headed by the Provincial Agriculture Office with an amount of P50,713,840.00 and the La Union Provincial Tourism Office with an amount of 35,054,722.00.
In line with the priority programs of Gov. Francisco Emmanuel โPacoyโ R. Ortega III for continuous measures to combat CoViD-19, the focus on Healthcare Services consists of funding various programs and projects spearheaded by the Provincial Health Office with a total of P139,780,408.79 of the total budget of the province with the local Provincial District Hospitals having their own budget amounting to P316,956,372.00. Aside from these funds, there is also a Social Development Fund to support Social Development within the province amounting to P177,600,172.00 which is part of the mandated 20% of the total Budget of the province for inclusive Development Fund. These funds for programs in healthcare services help with the strategic measures to continue the health pandemic response and recovery and start to regularize implementation of the Universal Health Care Service Delivery Network towards the new normal in the post-pandemic era.
The 20% Local Development Fund of the budget includes an amount of P133,020,320.00 reserved for Economic Development such as Maintenance of Provincial Roads and Bridges, Infrastructure Development for Tourism and Cultural Site preservations, and Maintenance of Eco-Tourism Sites. An amount of P88,750,000.00 for Environment Management and Development is also included that focus to finance Projects that enhance and maintain the environmental structures within La Union. These programs for the environment include programs such as Water Quality management and marine protection activities, Assistance for local government units (LGUs) in the Establishment of Wastewater facilities, and the assistance for LGUs for their establishment of Sanitary Landfill.
On top of these funds solely mandated to fund development programs, the Province of La Union appropriated an amount of P340,138,363.18 under the Special Purposes Appropriations for prioritize programs and activities of the province for the constituents deemed by the Governor as necessary and also mandated by local Ordinances enacted by our Legislative Committees. This includes activities for support and assistance to our local Stakeholders that includes the Non-Government Agencies, the component LGUs, and Civil Society Organizations. It also includes scholarship funds for the constituents attending Colleges and Senior High School, Aid to Individuals in Crisis Situation such as Burial and Medical Assistance, Peace and Order Programs that includes Anti-Illegal Drug Activities, and additional Subsidy for the operation of the Provincial District Hospitals.
With this projection for CY 2022, The province looks forward to a progressive year and the constituents will surely hope for a better La Union. Despite CoViD-19โs attempt to hinder the progress of the province, the Programs and activities aims to enable the pre-pandemic tract of progress towards attaining the vision of the province to be worth living in.
