- BERT BAYORAN
There will be no reduction in the number of Contract of Service (COS) and Job Order (JO) workers being employed by the provincial government of Negros Occidental, amid the cut on its National Tax Allotment by more than P760 million in 2023, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said.
“Should there be any, it is because of their performance, and not of budget constraints,” said Lacson.
He added that hiring of personnel will depend on the need.
“The budget is there. Maybe, what we can do is to review, if it’s material or necessary, in the hiring of employees. We cannot be lenient now because our budget next year is lower.”
The provincial government of Negros Occidental has about 1,600 employees classified as JO, casuals, and COS.
“As of now, we will base it on performance,” Lacson said.
The provincial government executive branch is proposing a P5.1 billion budget, including the P4,952,981,428 general fund budget, and the P190,379,525.15 budget for its Economic Enterprise Development Department, for next year, or a reduction of 12.87 percent, compared to its budget in 2022.
Lacson said that projects under the Abanse Negrense will be given priority in the P5.1 billion budget, including agriculture and health, and scholarships, among others.
As to the continuing COVID-19 response, he said that they have earmarked P40 million, or lesser compared to its 2022 allocation./GB
