THE Sangguniang Panlalawigan or provincial board of Bohol has started (last week) the hearing for the provincial budget for next year, Vice-Gov. Tita V. Baja said.
The 2025 budget totaled P4.5 billion in general fund, according to Board Member Atty. Jamie Aumentado Villamor.
Baja said that the committee on appropriations which is doing the budget hearing is intended for each department under the executive department or governor’s office, including the province’s owned-and-managed ten hospitals and the SP to defend their respective office budget proposal for next year.
The vice-governor hopes for the SP she chairs that the time frame for the budget hearing and that the SP could approve it before the last day of December this year.
This came as appropriations chair BM Dr. Romulo G. Cepedoza has convened the said committee for such budget hearing, calling for each department in a scheduled hearing to come and defend their respective budget.
It is the power of the SP under the Local Government Code of 1991 to scrutinize each office proposed budget. But such office budget is prepared by the executive department, except for the legislative branch thru the provincial board.
Those called for the hearing include Provincial Legal Office thru Atty. Handel Lagunay, Assessor’s office thru its head Rene Jayag; Provincial Bohol environment management Office thru Jovencia Ganub; Bohol Mineral Regulatory Office thru Engr. Anna Luisa Galicinao; Bohol Employment and Placement Office thru Vilma Yorong; and Bohol Provincial tourism Office thru Joanne Pinat.
The committee composition is headed by Cepedoza with members: Board Members Atty. Tomas D. Abapo, Jr., Nathaniel Binlod, Nicanor Besas, Aldner Damalerio, and Greg Jala, members.
Also called for the hearing along with department heads were Budget Officer Peter Ross Retutal, provincial treasurer Eustaquio Socorin, provincial accountant Clarissa Baluma and human resource officer Anne Mariquit D. Oppus. (rvo)
