• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Negros Occidental provincial government is eyeing an annual budget of P7.618 billion in 2026, which is higher by 17.98 percent compared to the P6.45-billion allocation this year.
Vice Governor Jose Benito Alonso said yesterday the bulk of the proposed budget comes from the National Tax Allotment (NTA) earmarked for Negros Occidental in 2026, which is P6.655 billion.
Next year’s total budget amount will increase by P1.16 billion.
Governor Eugenio Lacson earlier said the proposed budget will focus on health services, adding that he wants the further upgrading of the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital to tertiary level and the Cadiz District Hospital to Level 2.
This move aims to enhance the province’s healthcare system and provide better medical services to its residents, Lacson said.
During the regular session on Tuesday, the Provincial Board approved the proposed P7.6-billion budget on first reading and was then referred to the committee on finance headed by First District Board Member Lawrence Marxlen dela Cruz for deliberations.
Alonso said they are aiming to approve the proposed budget by the first week of December.
For his part, De la Cruz assured transparency in the deliberations.
Of the P7.6 billion, the P7.323 billion will go to the General Fund Proper while the P294.636 million will be allocated for the Economic Enterprise Development Department.
In his endorsement, Lacson said the proposed budget was forged in strict adherence to various laws, circulars and other pertinent issuances.
The local revenue sources of the provincial government accounts for the 9.13 percent of the total estimated receipts for 2026 while the province’s share from the NTA constitutes 90.87 percent. | GB
