BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Negros Occidental has started deliberations on the proposed P4.4-billion budget for 2021.
Atty. Maki Angel Ascalon, SP secretary said, due to the social distancing protocol, they can only accommodate a limited number of people at the session hall, primarily department heads, SP members and authorized SP staff.
Ascalon said department heads with scheduled time slots will be allowed to have only one companion.
As for those who want to monitor the proceedings, Ascalon said they will livestream the budget deliberations on the SP’s Facebook page.
As of yesterday, among those who have been summoned to the deliberations were the Governor’s Office, Provincial Administrator’s Office, Office of the Provincial Accountant, Provincial Treasurer’s Office, Human Resources Management Office, and the Provincial Engineer’s Office.
For the scheduled hearing today, the SP will summon the Office of the Provincial Assessor, Negros Occidental Tourism Division, Scholarship Program Division, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Provincial Veterinary Office, and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson submitted the proposed budget to the SP last month.
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 of Negros Occidental assured the timely approval of the proposed P4.4-billion budget, pointing out he does not see a delay since funds are needed for the province’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
SP member Rommel Debulgado of the 1st District is leading the budget hearings as chairman of the committee on budget and finance./PN
