DBM: Province has exceeded personnel cap since 2015

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

In response to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) disallowing an over P500 million 2018 budget allocation, claiming the Negros Occidental provincial government exceeded their limit for personnel services, acting Provincial Administrator, Dr. Lucille Gelvolea, yesterday insisted the creation of new offices and positions was “legal” and “based on need.”

According to DBM Regional officer-in-charge Mae Chua, positions created within the human resources department and the organic farming division should be disallowed as they were created in 2017 and funded through the 2018 annual budget.

She noted, the provincial government has exceeded the personnel services cap for the past few years, dating back to 2015.

Gelvolea admitted the provincial government exceeded its personnel services limit by 45 percent last year. She explained, the Salary Standardization Law increased wages and additional positions needed to be filled to satisfy staffing requirements at district and provincial hospitals.

Provincial Budget Officer Percival Salado has since sought clarification from DBM and the Civil Service Commission, while the local finance committee submitted recommendations to Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr./DGB, WDJ