• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The annual budget of Negros Occidental will increase by P1 billion next year, according to the budget proposal submitted by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP).
The proposed amount for 2025 is P6.457 million, with an increase of P1.022 billion or 18.2 percent compared to the budget in 2024.
The allocations include P6.203 billion for the general fund while P254.454 million is earmarked for the Economic Enterprise Development Department.
In his letter to the SP, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said that the 2025 executive budget reflects the administration’s continued commitment to fully realize the seven-point development agenda dubbed Abanse Negrense.
“It has been carefully crafted to guide us in our pursuit for sustained progress and development, with focus on achieving a Negrense brand of good governance and growth,” he added.
Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer said on Thursday that the proposed 2025 budget has been forwarded to the finance committee, chaired by First District Board Member Rommel Debulgado, for deliberations.
Ferrer said that the Provincial Board is targeting to approve the budget by the first week of December.
Lacson earlier said that the 2025 National Tax Allotment (NTA) of the province amounts to P5.823 billion, with an increase of P918.771 million compared to this year’s NTA share. | GB
