MGB asks gov’t for more funds

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is asking for a budget of P1.24 billion for 2014, 24 percent higher than the approved P999 million for this year.

According to the MGB’s finance department, the agency needs some P246 million in additional funding to implement priority programs.

Of the proposed amount, P438.38 million is earmarked to salaries and benefits, P635.87 million to maintenance and other operating expenses, and P171.12 million to capital outlay.

The MGB said in a statement an increased budget would help bankroll programs like the geohazard assessment and mapping program for disaster risk and reduction and preparedness as well as those for groundwater resource assessment, promotion of responsible mining, and increasing the government share from the use of mineral resources.

An additional P408.71 million is being proposed for major activities that include geosciences development, monitoring of mining permits and contracts under the mineral lands administration program, national small-scale mining program; and mineral reservation program.

The MGB submitted its proposed budget for 2014 through the online submission of budget proposal system (OSBPS), as the Department of Budget and Management requires.

The DBM has instructed all government agencies to submit budget requirements in time for scheduled technical budget hearings.

Earlier this year, the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) said it intends to limit the budget deficit to 2 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2014.