DILI, 11 January 2022 (TATOLI) – Civil Society Support and Social Audit Service (SASCAS) allocated US$ 8.6 million to support the activities of civil society and religious denominations in the country.
The Executive Director of SASCAS, Edwin Noronha, explained that the US$8.6 million was made up of US$7.8 million for public transfer, US$809,100 for Goods and Services, and US$54,000 for Minor Capital.
“The Government allocated US$1,650,239 million for funding the activities of the resistance organizations, US$2.9 million for the activities of non-Catholic religious denominations, US$1.4million for the construction of the statue of Francisco Xavier, US$99,900 for the coordination of the service of Support to Civil Society, US$170.000 for the activities of social audit organizations and US$1,500 for activities of organizations, specifically of civil society,” Noronha told Tatoli, at the Government Palace.
He said that there was a decrease in the allocation of the 2023 General State Budget for SASCAS compared to the previous year which was US$10 million.
SASCAS will use its 2023 budget to continue the projects of 2022 (over 30% of these projects are still ongoing), especially in the construction of churches and chapels.
Noronha said that last year SASCAS executed 60% of its budget, the equivalent of six million dollars, to support activities of civil society and religious denominations. The institution also supported 21 groups of services integrated into the agricultural sector for rice production, horticulture, livestock, etc: “A significant example of this reality is the fact that the Religious Tourism Association has executed 70% of its budget with the support of SASCAS.”
Journalist: Jose Belarmino De Sa
Editor: Nelia Borges
