By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

In response to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) earlier disallowing an over P500 million 2018 budget allocation, claiming the Negros Occidental provincial government exceeded their limit for personnel services, gubernatorial candidate, incumbent Negros Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, said he believes the provincial government should comply by recommendations issued by the government agency.

DBM has since called for the Provincial Human Resource Management Department (PHRMD), which employs 15, to be returned as an office; and for the Organic Agriculture Division (OAD), which employs seven, to be dissolved.

To resolve the matter, the personnel of PHRMD, which was created to expand government workforce, may be transferred to other offices; while OAD staff could be moved back to the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.

Acting Provincial Administrator, Dr. Lucille Gelvolea, earlier responded to the matter, insisting 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./DGB, WDJ