BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Negros Occidental is eyeing a two-week hearing for the proposed P4.4-billion budget for 2021.
Atty. Maki Angel Ascalon, SP secretary, said they are finalizing the schedule of the deliberation.
“Tentatively, it will start on Nov. 11,” Ascalon said.
She added that there will be marathon hearings but it will be spread out in two weeks.
SP member Rommel Debulgado of the 1st District will lead the budget hearings as chairman of the committee on budget and finance.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson submitted the proposed budget to the SP two weeks ago.
The proposed general fund budget is P4,471,695,065, and allocated for personal services is P1,641,424,244; maintenance and other operating expenses, P1,374,658,871; capital outlay, P12,000,000; and special purpose appropriations, P1,443,611,950.
The P4.4 billion will come from tax revenues totaling P98,000,000; non-tax revenues of P380,357,719; and Internal Revenue Allotment of P3,993,337,346.
Lacson said the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused an economic loss of P9.57 billion to Negros Occidental.
Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer assured the approval of the proposed 2021 budget on time “as funds are needed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.”/PN
