• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Acting Governor Jeffrey Ferrer yesterday said that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental is eyeing to approve the P6.457 billion budget for 2025 of the provincial government by Dec. 3 this year.
The marathon hearing of the budget by the Committee on Finance led by Board Member Rommel Debulgado will start next week, according to Ferrer.
While there could be some amendments in the budget during deliberations, Ferrer said he sees no problem on its approval.
The proposed 2025 budget is higher by P1.022 billion, or about 18.8 percent, compared to the P5.43 billion budget in 2024.
“The 2025 Executive Budget reflects the administration’s continued commitment to fully realizing our seven-point development agenda, Abanse Negrense. It has been carefully crafted to guide us in our pursuit for sustained progress and development, with a focus on achieving a Negrense-brand of good governance and growth,” Lacson said in his budget message.
Of the P6.547 billion, the P6.203 billion will go to the General Fund Proper, while the P254,454 million is for the Economic Enterprise Development Department, a special account under the General Fund. | GB