CEBU CITY – If it gets the nod of the Provincial Board, Cebu Province will be working with a P2.6 billion budget for 2010, with Social Services getting the lion’s share of the funds.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has submitted to the office of the Provincial Secretary a proposed P2,622 billion budget for next year, or P300 million higher than the existing year’s budget for this year.

Of the proposed amount, P881,729,000 will go to General Public Services, while P663, 157,000 will be allocated for the Capitol’s economic services. Social services will have biggest share of P1,076, 950,00, representing about 40 percent of the proposed budget.

In a letter attached to her proposal, Garcia said that the “projected funds and resources are being considered in the utilization for programs, projects and activities and for other purposes not contrary to law, with the end view of promoting the general welfare of our Cebuano people.”

The Governor explained to PB members that the province has a “relative autonomy from the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) share, contributing only 56 percent of the required funding sources.” Unlike other local government units, she said Cebu does not depend on its IRA.

“This, likewise, affirms this administration’s philosophy in achieving total fiscal independence by continuing or engaging in economic enterprises to widen our income base,” she added.