City barangays told to submit annual budgets by October 16

City officials recently mandated the city’s one hundred twenty eight barangays to submit their respective annual budgets for next year on or before October 16, 2024 to the City Budget Office for eventual review of the local legislative body.

In a resolution, local legislators stated that the annual barangay budget is a crucial instrument for barangay officials for them to effectively manage the development in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

Further, it serves as the foundation for timely and proper planning, policy adoption, program and project implementation, financial control and management information.

The council pointed out that the availability of the barangay budgets ensures the timely delivery of essential services to the community, embodying the principle of no barangay will be left behind in terms of service delivery which is a policy of the Liga ng mga Barangay–Baguio City chapter under the leadership of Councilor Rocky M. Aliping.

According to the body, the timely submission of barangay budgets is crucial for effective fiscal planning and management to ensure that the needs of the community are adequately addressed within the annual investment plan and the corresponding sources of funds for the various programs, projects and activities of the different barangays.

The council asserted that it is important that each of the city’s barangays adhere to a standardized timeline to facilitate the evaluation of their respective annual budgets to enhance the efficiency of the overall budgeting process.

Under existing laws, rules and regulations, the punong barangay, with the assistance of the barangay treasurer, is responsible for preparing the barangay budget. The barangay treasurer must provide detailed statements of income and expenditures to the punong barangay by September 15 every year to serve as the basis for the next fiscal year’s budget.

Subsequently, the local chief executive must submit the executive budget to the Sanggunian concerned by October 16 of the current fiscal year as stipulated in the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (RA) 7160 or the local government code of the Philippines.

Moreover, under in DBM-COA Joint Circular No. 93-2 dated June 8,1993, pursuant to Section 318 of the Local Government Code, a punong barangay who fails to submit the budget on or before October 16 of the current year shall be subject to the criminal and administrative penalties provided by the Code and other applicable laws.

Earlier, the council passed Resolution No. 391, series of 2024 which mandates the adoption, implementation and strict adherence to the barangay budgeting system implemented by the City Budget office by all barangays in the city for the preparation of annual barangay budgets and other related purposes starting with the calendar year 2025.

Copies of the approved resolution will be transmitted to all the city’s barangays for information, guidance, ready reference and further needed action. Dexter A. See