After Pasig City’s highest budget in its history, amounting to P17.2 billion for fiscal year 2024, was approved by the city council last week, Mayor Vico Sotto said the local government is ramping up its large-scale infrastructure projects for next year.
Sotto said the local government is now more comfortable with venturing into larger projects in its “Phase 2 ng Pagbabago (second phase of change),” adding that the keywords for 2024 are “big improvements” and “more projects.”
The biggest project to be undertaken by the local government is the start of the redevelopment of the City Hall Campus, which the mayor announced last July. The pricing and terms of the whole build remain under negotiations, but the mayor said some funds were already appropriated to jumpstart the project.
The city government is also continuing its land banking for in-city relocation sites, with an appropriated budget of P131 million.
Around P15 million has been allocated for financial aid to barangays, wherein each barangay will receive P3 million to P5 million. Stricter liquidation will also be done next year, he noted.
The local government will utilize P98 million for the automation of the city’s flood control system, including flood gates in pumping station, monitoring censors, and control centers; P46 million to purchase additional 15 garbage trucks to implement the collection by administration system; and P100 million for refleeting of unserviceable city vehicles.
Two-story multipurpose evacuation centers with basketball courts will be built in three barangays - Sta. Lucia and Kapasigan worth P48 million each, and Sagad worth P47 million; along with P40 million worth health center in E. Santos Palatiw.
The indicated prices or values of the projects may still be lowered after the public bidding process, noted Sotto.
Largest budget
Sotto thanked the efforts of the City Council in meticulously reviewing and crafting the approved P17.2 billion budget, which was signed by the mayor last Nov. 17.
The biggest chunk of the budget, taking up 31.84 percent, was allocated to the Institutional sector with P5.48 billion, followed by the Health sector with 23.70 percent at P4.08 billion, and the Economic sector with 14.53 percent at P2.49 billion.
Other sectors included the Education sector with 11.19 percent at P1.92 billion, Special Purpose Appropriations (such as community development fund, financial aid to barangays, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management [DRRM] fund) with 10.03 percent at P1.72 billion, Social sector with 6.48 percent at P1.11 billion, and the Legislative sector with 2.24 percent at P384 million.
Continuing projects
Sotto said they have begun constructing bigger infrastructure projects this year, some of which were just started and others that are near completion.
Among the “tough 10” of these projects from the 2023 budget were the improvements to facilities, drainage, and flooring of the Mutya ng Pasig Mega Market; as well as to the facilities of the Pasig City General Hospital (PCGH) and the face, auditorium, and gymnasium of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig (PLP).
The local government has received the approval for the construction plan from the Department of Health (DOH) in order to convert the Pasig City Children’s Hospital into a general hospital.
Two-story multipurpose evacuation centers with basketball courts have also been built in Barangays Palatiw and Sta. Lucia.
The playground and senior citizen park within the Maybunga Rainforest Park are also nearly finished.
The housing project for the Rosario Floodway and the housing for affected families in the Santolan danger zone near the revetment wall are under design and build procurement.
The transfer of the command center from the eight floor of the city hall, along with new DRRM office training facilities, were also completed.