• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The town of E.B. Magalona in Negros Occidental is now nearing the status of a first class municipality.
Municipal Budget Officer Debbie Ann Dioneo Monte disclosed on July 29 that E.B. Magalona is now qualified to be a first class municipality, as it has already reached an annual budget of P200 million in the past three years.
“We are still waiting for a certification from the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF), stating that E.B. Magalona is now a first class municipality,” Monte said in a press briefing on Monday.
Republic Act (RA) No. 11964, otherwise known as the Automatic Income Classification of Local Government Units Act, which was signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on October 26, 2023, classifies provinces, cities, and municipalities into five classes according to their income ranges, based on the average annual regular income for three fiscal years preceding a general income reclassification.
Mayor Marvin Malacon said this development would mean an increase in National Tax Allotment, previously referred as Internal Revenue Allotment, by P40 million to P50 million, for the municipality, more basic services for Saraviahanons, increases in salaries and the number of plantilla positions, among others.
With an 18 percent increase of NTA, Monte reported that E.B. Magalona has a projected budget of P300 million for next year, including its local sources of revenues.
The nine-year term of Malacon as chief of executive of E.B. Magalona expires on June 30 next year.
Asked on his plans for 2025, Malacon said he has yet to decide, since the filing of certificate of candidacy for the next year elections is still in October.
He, however, confirmed that the Team Asenso in the 3rd district of Negros Occidental has already endorsed his son, Matthew Louis, as its candidate for mayor of E.B. Magalona, who also has the endorsement of Love Negros convenor, Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez.*