Performance Budget

We are expecting to submit the Performance Budget for year 2007 by this week. The said budget, amounting to P1.3 Billion delineates the sources of funds and the list of expenditures that the Provincial Government foresees for fiscal year 2007.

For the last two years, the Provincial Government’s budget was devoted to major infrastructure projects. For one, we embarked on the restoration of the Provincial Capitol buildings and the renovation of the Capitol Complex. Second, nine major Provincial bridges linking various towns were replaced with stronger structures. Third, the first batch of two-story schoolbuildings with a total of 94 classrooms were constructed. Fourth, a beautification campaign was launched targetting the municipal halls of the 31 component towns of the province.

Hand-in-hand with these infrastructure projects, the government started the capability building program of the Provincial Engineers Office. The procurement of heavy equipment has been started and by year-end 2006, the PEO would be able to undertake the massive rehabilitation of all provincial roads and the dredging of rivers and canals and other waterways.

We are looking forward to next year, what with all opportunities beckoning. What then can we expect from the Provincial Budget? What projects would be earmarked for funding then?

We would be starting the delivery of various infrastructre projects to the 1078 Barangays of Batangas. As a matter of fact, a good number had already been started. These consist of barangay roads, multi-purpose halls and waterworks systems.

The revitalization of the 12 hospitals in our provincial health system is now in order. We have already kick-started this by putting up the CTScan and Dialysis Centers at the Provincial Hospital in Lemery, Batangas. Likewise, the Provincial Drug Rehabilitation Center is being operationalized as of now.  In the pipeline are the Trauma Center and Ortophedic Centers in two different District Hospitals. hand in hand with all these, we are aiming for the full implementation of the Health Card program of the Governor. The program gives free medical services to pre-selected residents of Batangas.  A modest target of 30 thousand families has been set for this.

Finally, we would be focusing on a major water resource of the Province, the Taal lake. We have had successes in taking care of Batangas bay and have started work on Balayan Bay. It is high tijme that the ecologocal integrity of Taal lake be taken cared of. We would try to revitalize the efforts of the PAMB of this protected area, and would be starting some catalytic projects in order to encourage the private sector to put in investments in the area. By this, the vast potential of the lake would be harnessed and the environmental concerns would be preserved.