• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The proposed P7.6-billion annual budget of the Negros Occidental provincial government for 2026 is up for final discussions of the Provincial Board today.
First District Board Member Laurence Marxlen dela Cruz, chairman of the committee on finance, said they have completed the budget deliberations of all Capitol departments last week.
Dela Cruz said the proposed budget will be formally presented to the Provincial Board during its regular session today for further discussions.
It will then be elevated to second reading and then approved on its third and final reading.
De la Cruz raised the possibility that some amendments on next year’s budget maybe raised, especially on the recovery efforts of the province after the devastation of Typhoon Tino.
The 2026 annual budget is 17.98 percent higher from the previous year’s largely due to the province’s higher National Tax Allotment and improved local revenue generation.
The proposal allocates P7.32 billion for the General Fund and P294.6 million for the Economic Enterprise Development Department.
Vice Governor Jose Benito Alonso earlier said they are targeting to approve the proposed 2026 annual budget within the first week of December. | GB
