ILOILO – The provincial government’s proposed 2025 annual budget of P5,977,080,427 has been proved on December 17 during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP).
Appropriation Ordinance No. 2024-03, Series of 2024, earmarks funds for various operational expenses of the provincial government for the upcoming year.
The budget, divided into two main categories, allocates P4,849,438,886 for the General Fund and P1,127,641,541 for the Local Economic Enterprise (LEE).
This represents a significant increase of P844,546,383 from the previous year’s budget of P5,132,534,054.
The General Fund breakdown is as follows:
* Personal Services – P1,187,154,216
* Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) – P1,787,834,285
* Capital Outlay – P10,000,000
* Special Purpose Appropriations – P1,864,450,385
For the LEE, the funds are allocated between:
* Personal Services – P423,209,537
* MOOE – P704,432,004
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. described the 2025 budget as a “developmental budget,” highlighting its focus on infrastructure and other developmental projects aimed at enhancing provincial growth.
“We are trying to be aggressive in funding our local road networks and basic utilities such as power, electricity, water, and internet connectivity, with a particular emphasis on improving road connectivity and water systems,” said Defensor.
This budgetary increase follows a 20 percent share from the National Tax Allocation and a yearly rise in the province’s income.
The 2025 budget approval process mirrored the previous year’s, where the SP passed the 2024 budget on December 19, 2023, under Appropriation Ordinance No. 2023-02, Series of 2023./PN
