BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The funds needed for implementing infrastructure projects during the second term of Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson are expected to get a boost from the World Bank, through its Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP), disclosed Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz yesterday.
Diaz cited the construction of six slaughterhouses in the towns of Hinobaan, Cauayan, Murcia, Toboso, Binalbagan and San Carlos City, which will be funded through PRDP. He said each project will have a budget of about P50 million each.
Furthermore, Diaz also revealed that the construction of a bridge in the remote barangay of Puey in Sagay City will also be funded by the WB through a grant where the provincial and national government will each provide 10 percent counterpart funds.
“We are very resourceful in sourcing funds from outside, despite the reduction of National Tax Allotment,” he added.
With the assistance of the six congressmen of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City Mayor-elect Alfredo Benitez, Diaz said “we can access more funds from national agencies to continue our programs to make Negros Occidental prosperous, including Bacolod City.”
Negros Occidental is losing more than P700 million in NTA next year, with a P302 million reduction also for Bacolod City, due to the low collection of taxes by the national government in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Based on reports of the Department of Budget, the 12 component cities of Negros Occidental will have a total reduction of P2 billion in NTA, and a total of P782 million for the 19 municipalities.*
