Cuba's Prime Minister Manuel Marrero.
Havana, October 27 (RHC)-- Cuba's Prime Minister Manuel Marrero called for perfecting the state budget's preparation and execution and making it more and more focused on satisfying social needs.
The head of government pointed out current deficiencies in the state spending and income plan during a speech on Wednesday before the plenary of the National Assembly of People's Power (Parliament), which is in session in Havana.
The budgets allocated for subsidies for housing construction, for single mothers with more than three children and in other socially-targeted items and even for local development are not being met, he said.
He added that this adds up to hundreds of millions of dollars without execution, even though the bulk of the state budget is allocated for education and health expenses, which are free for the Cuban people.
He criticized unnecessary administrative structures and inflated staffs that have a greater impact at the municipal level.
In this sense, he considered that the more than two thousand budgeted units existing at the national level are too many and assured that they are not justified in many cases.
He informed that the Council of Ministers analyzed the issue and approved principles for its improvement, all to achieve a more efficient public administration.
He added that billions are invested from the budget in the business activity, even to cover the expenses of companies that operate at a loss.
He added that the State budget could not continue to finance losses resulting from theft, diversion of resources and illegalities, nor inefficiency.
It cannot be the solution for all those who mismanage, he remarked.
He considered that the plan has to be conceived to respond to the greatest needs of the population, with budgets more focused on public policies and vulnerable citizens.
In this respect, he proposed changes in preparing the budget liquidation report, particularly concerning the valuation of social impact and accountability of territories.
