15 Municipal LGU’s Operate On 1.4 Billion Budget

In October of each year, the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of each municipality in Aklan will start the review of their respective budget for the year 2014. This will happen even if two (2) towns: Batan and Numancia are yet to submit their  2013 respective budgets for review by the Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP). 

Actually, Batan has submitted its municipal budget for review by the SP. However, it was officially withdrawn due to substantial error in the budget documents. 

Numancia has new Municipal Mayor who assumed office on June 30, 2013. The previous Mayor on one hand, and the SB members on the other, whose term of office was 2010 – 2013 were in conflict. Hence, Numancia town has not approved its municipal budget for the year 2013. 

Buruanga’s 2013 budget has the distinction to get the first approval and declared operational in its entirety on March 13, 2013. The total budget approved is 51.8 million pesos, 3.3 million pesos is for its Municipal Economic Enterprises Development (MEED) and the rest is for general fund. Moreover, a supplemental budget of P236,545 was approved for Buruanga. 

Balete’s 2013 municipal budget was approved on March 20, 2013 in the amount of 61.731 million pesos. It also obtained approval for its P5.2 million supplemental budget.

Among the 17 municipalities in Aklan, Malay has the biggest budget which are 310 million pesos general fund and 20 million pesos MEED or a total of 330 million pesos. 

Kalibo the capital town is only second to Malay. Kalibo has 158.66 million pesos for general fund and 51.114 million pesos for MEED or a total of 209.782 million pesos. It has P0.779 supplemental budget. Kalibo’s budget is 30 percent smaller than that of Malay.

For the other towns, their respective total 2013 budget are as follows: 1. Tangalan – P50.582 million; 2. Madalag – P60.701; 3. Malinao – P59.288 million; 4. Altavas – P59.011 million; 5. Makato – P63.085 million; 6. New Washington – P93.873 million; 7. Ibajay – P86.935 million; 8. Banga – P79.398 million; 9. Libacao – P71.987 million; 10. Lezo – P35.232 million; and 10. Nabas – P63.614 million. 

Among the 17 municipalities, Lezo has the smallest annual budget. Not including the annual budgets of Batan and Numancia, the total 2013 annual budget of the 15 municipalities is 1.403 billion pesos. (with the report of Mr. Odon S. Bandiola, SP Secretary) /MP