BUDGET APPROVAL. The Negros Occidental Provincial Board presided by Vice-Governor Jeffrey Ferrer approved the province’s PHP4.4-billion annual budget for 2021 during its regular session on Tuesday afternoon (Nov. 24, 2020). Next year’s budget includes allocations for the continuing response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. (Screenshot from Negros Occidental SP Facebook page)
BACOLOD CITY – The Negros Occidental provincial government will get a PHP4.471 billion annual budget for 2021, which includes funding for the province’s continuing response to coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
The total allocation under the General Fund was unanimously passed by the Provincial Board on the third and final reading during its regular session presided by Vice-Governor Jeffrey Ferrer on Tuesday afternoon.
“There is a need to approve the budget early as funds are needed in the fight against Covid-19,” Ferrer said.
Provincial administrator Rayfrando Diaz II earlier said the provincial government has set aside PHP56 million under the 2021 budget for the province’s Covid-19 response next year.
Some PHP36 million will be used to buy more test kits while PHP20 million will be allocated for the operation of various quarantine facilities.
A separate budget of PHP128.073 million for the Economic Enterprise Development Department (EEDD) was approved by the Provincial Board under the guidelines set by the Department of Budget and Management.
The allocation for the EEDD is based on the province’s five-year business plan.
Under the 2021 General Fund, personal services have an allocation of PHP1.641 billion; maintenance and other operating expenses, PHP1.374 billion; capital outlay, PHP12 million; and special-purpose appropriations, PHP1.143 billion.
Next year’s funding will be sourced from tax revenues amounting to PHP98 million; non-tax revenues, PHP380.357 million; and Internal Revenue Allotment share, PHP3.993 billion.
First District Board Member Rommel Debulgado, chairman of the committee on finance, said the budget for personal services comprises 36.71 percent of the total budget for 2021, including, among others, the funds for the first tranche of pay increases under the Salary Standardization Law 5. (PNA)
