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CEBU CITY, Philippines ? The Cebu Provincial Board on Monday passed the Capitol?s second supplemental budget for the year worth P3.4 million.
Supplemental Budget No. 2 (SB 2) allocates P2.5 million to increase the daily food allowance of inmates at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), while P900,000 will be spent for the operation of three district hospitals.
The increase in the prisoners? meal allowance was the result of a promise that Governor Gwendolyn Garcia gave the inmates during her 53rd birthday on October 12.
She promised to raise the daily meal allowance from P30 to P50.
Board Member Wenceslao Gakit said SB2 would be funded by proceeds from the disposal of old Capitol vehicles, including cars and heavy equipment (P3.26 million) and amortizations from a province-owned property (P163, 845).
SB 2 was submitted to the Provincial Board together with the governor's proposed P2.3-billion annual budget for 2009.
The draft annual budget, however, would still be discussed during the Provincial Board's November 3 session to allow the committee on budget and appropriations, headed by Gakit, more time to study the draft.
The provincial board has until December 13 to approve the annual budget, otherwise the provincial government would have to operate using a reenacted 2008 budget.
The largest portion of the draft 2009 budget goes to economic services at P794.5 million. General services got the second biggest share at P769.7 million while P755 million goes to social services.
The draft budget was passed on first reading during the board?s Oct. 20 session. /Reporter Doris C. Bongcac
