• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental unanimously approved the proposed P6.45-billion annual budget of the provincial government for 2025 yesterday.
Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer earlier promised the approval on the said date, following two weeks of budget deliberations by the Committee on Finance chaired by First District Board Member Rommel Debulgado.
Of the P6.45 billion, the P6.203 billion will go to the General Fund Proper, while the P254.454 million will be allocated for the Economic Enterprise Development Department, a special account under the General Fund.
The 2025 annual budget is higher by about 18.8 percent from the previous year’s P5.43 billion due to the higher share of the province from the National Tax Allotment.
The overall increase from the 2024 annual budget is P1.022 billion.
Second District Board Member Samson Mirhan presided the regular session on Tuesday.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson earlier said that the 2025 annual budget was formulated with strict adherence to the necessary fiscal reforms, ensuring that the resources are maximized to meet the provincial government’s goals and objectives for Negros Occidental and Negrenses. | GB
