Vice Governor Mark Lambino (PNA File Photo)
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Pangasinan’s proposed PHP5.7 billion 2024 budget, higher than this year’s PHP5.3 billion, is set to be approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) next week.
Vice Governor Mark Lambino told the Philippine News Agency on Wednesday that around 70 percent of the proposed allocation will be for programs and activities of the provincial government, maintenance and other operating expenses, mandatory payments of loans, and other taxes while the balance will be for Personal Services.
He said budget hearings started on Tuesday.
"After the presentation of the budgets (by the different departments), this will be presented at the plenary by the sponsor, Board Member Vici Ventanilla, chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, for approval," he said.
In an interview, Ventanilla said he is thankful to the department heads and the other resource persons for attending the hearings to defend their respective offices’ proposed budget.
Meanwhile, Lambino said the provincial government has not drawn any amount from the PHP6 billion loan, aimed to finance development projects, availed from state-owned Land Bank of the Philippines.
"For as long as we have not withdrawn any money from the bank the province will not pay yet. The loan payments mentioned in the budget proposal are for the outstanding loan of the province,” he added. (PNA)
