The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental is targeting to complete the deliberations of the proposed P4.4 billion budget of the province for 2021, before the end of this month.
This was after the SP Committee on Finance, chaired by Board Member Rommel Debulgado, started the deliberations of the proposed budgets of some Capitol departments, including the offices of the Governor, Provincial Administrator’s and Provincial Treasurer, on Wednesday.
Hopefully, it will be approved by the first week of December, Vice-Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer, who is the SP presiding officer, said.
Ferrer said the budget hearing will be held every Wednesday and Thursday for two consecutive weeks.
Of the proposed P4,471,695,065 budget of Negros Occidental next year, P1,641,424,244 has been allocated for personal services, Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) – P1,374,658,871, special purpose appropriations – P1,443,611,950, and capital outlay – P12 million.
SP records also showed that the proposed budget will come from the P3.9 billion Internal Revenue Allotment share, P380,357,791 from non-tax revenues, and P98 million from tax revenues.
Ferrer assured the approval of the proposed budget early, compared to last year.
The proposed budget for 2021 is up by more than P200 million from this year’s allocation.
Ferrer stressed the need to approve the budget early, since funds are badly needed by the provincial government in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic has caused an economic loss of P9.57 billion to Negros Occidental, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said.*GPB
