SP REVIEWS 2021 PGLU BUDGET
By: Rhea Matilde A. Ballesteros, GPC – SP | Photo By: Ralph Aldrich O. Sison, SP | Date: November 11 and 12, 2020
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Finance, Budget and Appropriations chaired by SPM Francisco Paolo P. Ortega V spearheads the review and deliberation of the proposed CY 2021 Budget of the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) during the two-day Budget Hearing on November 11 and 12, 2020 held at the SP Conference Hall, Provincial Capitol, City of San Fernando, La Union. The SP Legislators thoroughly reviewed the proposed budgets of the 27 PGLU Offices and five District Hospitals to ensure the efficient financial management of the resources of the province and likewise an oversight activity to various programs and projects being implemented by the executive offices in relation to enacted ordinances.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Committee on Finance, Budget and Appropriations chaired by SPM Francisco Paolo P. Ortega V spearheads the two-day budget hearing of the proposed CY 2021 Local Expenditure Program of the Provincial Government of La Union on November 11 and 12, 2020 at the SP Conference Hall, Provincial Capitol, City of San Fernando, La Union.
To ensure health and safety, the budget hearing was conducted face-to-face and virtually. Only limited number of participants were physically present and others joined the deliberations via Zoom.
27 PGLU Offices and five District Hospitals presented and defended their respective 2020 budgets. Before they recommended for its approval, the legislators thoroughly reviewed the offices’ and hospitals’ budget to ensure that the funds will be properly allocated and spent.
The budget proposal contained in the letter of the Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III was received by the SP on October 16, 2020, which is in compliance with the mandate of the Local Government Code of 1991. The proposed CY 2021 budget amounts to more than P1.8 billion, which is approximately 4.9% higher than this year’s budget. Getting the biggest chunk of the budget for 2021 are the following departments - Provincial Health Office, Sangguniang Panlalawigan and Office of the Governor. This further reflects the focus on the updated transformative strategy on Response, Recovery, and Local Economic Development to achieve a secure, self-sufficient and sustainable province under the new normal. A big portion of the budget is likewise intended to address the effects of the CoVid-19 pandemic to various sectors and to achieve the vision of the province to position La Union as the Heart of Agri-Tourism in Northern Luzon by the 2025.
The Committee on Finance, Budget and Appropriations will submit its Committee Report on the plenary after the proposed budget has been finalized. The SP is committed to approve the proposed CY 2021 budget before the year ends to ensure the continuous implementation of programs and projects that are geared towards building a Stronger La Union, a province worth living in.
