The proposed P5.7 billion budget of the Negros Occidental provincial government for 2022 is up for approval on third and final reading next week by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, its presiding officer, Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer, said Thursday, Nov. 4.
Ferrer earlier said the budget deliberations are targeted for completion within two weeks, and only major divisions and offices of Capitol were invited to defend their respective budgets.
He said they are now in the process of wrapping up the budget deliberations that started last week.
If there are no additional proposals, the SP will approve the proposed budget next week. The SP approved the 2021 budget in the last week of November last year.
Ferrer said there were minor questions on the slow implementation of some infrastructure projects, but this is expected due to the ongoing pandemic and weather disturbances.
“It is justifiable,” he stressed, adding that the delivery of basic services, and the pandemic response, remain good.
The proposed budget for 2022 increased by P1.3 billion. Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said this is due to the Mandanas ruling of the Supreme Court which amends the computation in the National Tax Allotment (NTA) share of local government units.
The executive department also proposed a P183,846,174.37 budget for the operation of the Economic Enterprise Development Department. — GB
