• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
The Provincial Government of Negros Occidental has turned over about P9.7 million worth of shares in taxes and fees collected from quarry resources, including sand and gravel, yesterday to several cities, municipalities, and barangays across the province.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson highlighted the significance of the milestone in an interview, noting that the province has already exceeded its total sand and gravel tax collections for the entire year of 2024.
“This is the share of the cities, municipalities, and barangays from taxes on sand and gravel. The good news is that we’ve already surpassed the collection for the whole of 2024. By October, we had exceeded it by about a million pesos,” Lacson stated, saying that the distribution only covered July to September 2025.
Bago received the highest share at P1,763,223, followed by Kabankalan with P1,398,004.74. Other beneficiaries include the cities of Cadiz, Silay, and Himamaylan.
Among the municipalities, Cauayan topped the list with P580,933.50, followed closely by EB Magalona with P578,605.50. Isabela, Binalbagan, and Moises Padilla also received notable shares.
Several barangays received substantial allocations, including Barangay San Isidro in EB Magalona, which earned P1,000,000. Barangay Inawayan in Cauayan received P856,068, while Barangay Antipulu-an in Bago City was allotted P857,115. Moreover, Barangay Orong and Barangay Camansi in Kabankalan City received P688,657.96 and P474,536.96, respectively.
Lacson emphasized that stronger enforcement by local government units significantly contributed to increased revenues, citing the exemplary performance of certain barangays.
“Barangay Antipulu-an in Bago received PHP 857,000 because of their strict implementation. If LGUs and barangays, as the frontline protectors of our environment, continue this effort, the benefits will ultimately return to them,” he said.
Under the province’s tax-sharing scheme, barangays receive 40 percent of the collections, while cities, municipalities, and the provincial government each receive 30 percent.
Looking ahead, Lacson expressed optimism that the province could reach P100 million in tax collections in the future, emphasizing the importance of continued strict enforcement of sand and gravel extraction regulations.
“The larger the collection, the greater the returns for our cities, municipalities, and especially the barangays,” he remarked, urging local officials to maintain their commitment to environmental compliance and enforcement.*
