Dr. Aung Naing Oo, Mon state Hlutaw (state Union) representative, said much more is required to cover rising costs associated with badly needed new buildings, bridges and road and highway projects;some of which are currently underway. He referred to the highway that traverses from Ye to Lamine to Rangoon as just one example.

“People demand for better road and communication,” said Aung Naing Oo, “(we) should get adequate amount of finance for the state expense.”
So far a shortfall of about 14,139 million kyats has been estimated.

“After we draft a chart of financial use for the state, we find out that lots of money is needed. We will know the exact amount needed this December,” Aung Naing Oo said.

(The Asia Foundation)

At the time of press this IMNA reporter was unable to get the exact figures of the total budget allotted for state uses.

The Union Hlutaw [Parliament] has full control over the exact amount budget allocation for respective states and regions,but because the system isn’t working state Hlutaw representatives want more control over the amount of the budgets given for running state affairs.

“The Union government has only allocated 3.6 percent out of the whole budget for (the) states and divisions (regions),” said Daw Nyo Nyo Thin, Rangoon region Hlutaw representative.

The states and divisions (regions) spend most of their allocated budgets to cover education and healthcare.

Rangoon region gets the largest budget allocated by the Union government,with Mon state receiving the second least and Pegu the least.