In a special session requested by the chief executive, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan last week okayed several measures, including the P82 million Supplemental Budget No. 1 for CY 2026 that funded several priority projects of the Azanza administration.
Chaired by Acting Vice Governor Fred Benedict T. Gianan, the June 24 special session concluded with the members present – ex-officio PBMs Joseph Mendoza and Roy Buendia, and temporary PBMs Gregorio Angeles, Aida Dianela, Virginia Sanchez, Joy Tamayo, Gil Alintana and Adrian Torcelino – expressing no objection to the passage of the resolutions.
One of the key measures is Supplemental Budget No. 1 with a total amount of P82,047,255, allocated for the governor’s office and various provincial offices.
Fully 75 percent of the additional budget, or P61.65 million, will go to the administration’s livelihood program originally approved for funding by the Catanduanes Development Council (CDC) at a total amount of P68.15 million.
According to Governor Patrick Alain T. Azanza, the program targets the bottom 10% of the province’s 87,000 families, providing business training and capital to 8,700 households that would be transformed into self-run enterprises.
The specific projects in various social service sectors which were included in the approved supplemental budget include the following: Rolling Bakery Livelihood Project – P11 million for 110 associations in 11 municipalities; Provincial Egg Laying Project with a budget of P10 million under the supervision of the Provincial Veterinarian; Fuel Micro Gas Stations – P9.15 million for 15 units in Caramoran, Gigmoto, Pandan, Viga, Panganiban, Bagamanoc, San Miguel, and Bato; Solar Light Distribution – P8.7 million worth of free solar lights to 8,700 families; Barangay College Scholarship Program – P6.3 million for an initial two scholars per barangay; Nutrition Program – P5 million for “Timbangan at Pagkain” initiatives; Salt Making Project – P4 million for four sites located in Bato, Caramoran, San Andres, and Gigmoto; Honeybee Livelihood Project – P3 million in three towns; and Soya Processing project – P3 million for tofu-making kits.
In the CDC list, the Abaca Industry Support program was supposed to allocate P5 million for handicraft and bag making, plus another P3 million for four weaving machines.
However, in the approved additional budget appropriation proposed by the governor, only P1.5 million was provided for abaca weaving machines.
The other sizeable allocations in SB No. 1 are P4 million for the purchase and acquisition of a fully-equipped sea ambulance for the Provincial Health Office (PHO); P2.5 million for ICT and other office equipment for the SP; P1.7 million for the Hospital Licensing Program; P2.2 million for drugs and medicines as well as medical, dental and laboratory supplies under the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP); another P400,000 for the repair and maintenance of medical equipment; and P925,456.00 for the hiring of Job-Order personnel.
Also in the budget is just over P1 million for the Establishment of Mental Health Substance Use Dependency Program; P300,000.00 in traveling expenses for the GO; and P200,000.00 for the granting of cash incentives for PRC Board Examination topnotchers provided under an ordinance authored by PBM Gianan.