- GILBERT BAYORAN
The provincial government of Negros Occidental has proposed a budget of P5.5 billion for 2024, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Monday, Sept. 18.
The proposed budget next year indicated an increase of P400 million, compared to the P5.1 billion budget this year.
Lacson also reported that the National Tax Allocation (NTA) of Negros Occidental was increased by the national government, from P4.6 billion to P4.9 billion this year.
Income from local sources, such as local taxes and nontax revenues, also registered an increase of P10 million, or from P329 million to P339 million, he added.
He attributed the increase in the proposed 2024 budget to high tax collection.
“It will normalize in 2025,” the governor added.
The Capitol executive department is expected to submit its 2024 proposed budget to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental, before its deadline on Oct. 16.
Lacson said the implementation of the Mandanas ruling of the Supreme Court this year had minimal effect on the budget of Negros Occidental, which showed a six percent increase.
Under the SC ruling in 2018, the just share of LGUs is determined based on all national taxes and not just on national internal revenue taxes. The decision significantly increased the tax base used in computing the share of local government units in the internal revenue allotment.
With the increase in the NTA of the province, Lacson said that all local government units also have increases in their budgets.
The increase in the NTA is “a big help for the funds of LGUs, especially the smaller municipalities,” he added.
Lacson also said that bulk of the proposed budget will go to infrastructure projects, such as farm to market roads and school buildings./GB
