THE provincial government of Batangas reported total assets of P31.999 billion in 2022, an increase of P2.29 billion from 2021.
Listed as the third wealthiest province in the country in 2021 when it reported P29.705 billion in assets, Batangas looks to overtake Rizal province, whose P30.638 billion assets placed it in second spot behind Cebu with P215.27 billion.
Among the principal assets listed by the provincial government consisted of P10.377 billion in road networks, P7.676 billion land, P3.566 billion in school buildings, P1.87 billion in other infrastructure assets, P1.622 billion other public buildings, and P1.086 billion in hospital and health centers.
Batangas reported P6.855 billion operation income in 2022 compared to P5.167 billion in 2021 or an increase of P1.688 billion.
The bulk came from its share in Internal Revenue collections amounting to P4.984 billion and tax revenues totaling P1.014 billion.
While total current operating expenses increased from P4.297 billion to P5.771 billion year on year, the province still booked a surplus from current operations in the sum of P926.181 million.
“We commend the performance of the Provincial Government of Batangas on certain areas manifested by awards and recognition received during the year,” the Commission on Audit said.
Batangas was awarded the Top Performing Province in Calabarzon Region by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on September 15, 2022.
The COA also noted that during the year, Batangas distributed Aid to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) totaling 23,939 beneficiaries while also giving out relief assistance to low-income families affected by COVID-19 numbering 364,743 families.
