Aklan EEDD operations carry P243.9M budget

BY ULYSSES ESPARTERO
KALIBO, Aklan – The provincial government is now implementing the projects and programs of the Economic Enterprise Development Department (EEDD) program, a private-type management to create revenue for the province with a total appropriation of P243, 985,667.00.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan chaired by Vice Gov. Ronquillo C. Tolentino approved last year the Appropriation Ordinance 06-007 for this purpose.

Through Appropriation Ordinance No. 06-006, the provincial board approved and enacted the General Fund Budget for 2007 carrying a total appropriation of P420,259,032. When combined, the total budget of the province is placed at P664,244,699.

“This is the biggest budget so far in the history of Aklan,” said Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez.

The EEDD budget increased by P44.5 million, according to Provincial Budget Officer Mary Grace Macahilas.

The creation of EEDD through an ordinance sponsored by lawyers SP Members Santiago Regalado and Plaridel Morania is anchored on Local Government Code of 1991 which empowers a local government unit to create its own sources of revenue which shall accrue exclusively for its use and disposition.

The passing of the ordinance creating EEDD is being considered the most significant achievement of the present administration.

EEDD puts into economic or revenue generating activity the provincial hospital known as the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital and the district hospitals of Altavas and Ibajay, the Caticlan Jetty Port and Cagban Port in Malay and the Corazon L. Cabganot Tourism and Training Center in Barangay Old Buswang here.

“There is reason for us to be elated with the collection performance in our Caticlan and Cagban, Manoc-Manoc Jetty Ports and Terminals. Collections rose drastically during the past two years, P17.896 million in 2005 and almost doubled rising to P30.650 million last year,” Marquez said.

“There is no doubt indeed that the EEDD that we have both created and nurtured would be a success story for Aklan and its people given another year of operation,” he further said.

The Provincial Engineering Office shall also function as the Construction Department to augment the revenue generating capacity of the EEDD./PN