BUDGET. The Provincial Board approves the over PHP2.041 billion 2024 executive budget of Antique during their regular session on Monday (Nov. 14, 2023). It increased by around PHP145 million when compared with this year’s budget. (PNA photo by Annabel Consuelo J. Petinglay)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The province of Antique will have a budget of over PHP2.041 billion in 2024 following its approval by the Provincial Board during its regular session on Monday.
“The provincial board was satisfied on how the budget for 2024 would be allocated that it decided to approve it on third and final reading, right after the second reading,” said Vice Governor Edgar Denosta in an interview Tuesday.
The Local Finance Committee also appeared before the council before the approval.
The province’s budget increased by over PHP145 million compared with the PHP1.8 billion 2023 budget.
Board member Emmanuel Palacios Jr., chair of the Committee on Appropriations, said the hike in the budget is due to the increased National Tax Allocation (NTA) share of the province by 6.23 percent, or equivalent to PHP95 million.
The budget will cover PHP847.567 million for personal services, PHP709.902 million for maintenance and other operating expenditures, PHP31.279 million for capital outlay, PHP452.293 million for statutory and contractual obligations and budgetary requirements, and PHP300,000 for financial expenses.
Provincial Government Budget officer-in-charge Melly Hinosa said in a separate interview that the personal services include the PHP511 million allocated for the salary increase of around 1,200 regular employees.
It is in fulfillment of the commitment of Antique Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao to implement the Salary Standardization Law 5 as her legacy before she finishes her term in 2025.
“Included in the budget for 2024 also is the five percent Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (PDRRMF), PHP102 million,” Hinosa said. (PNA)
