By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer assured the public that they will approve the proposed P4.4 billion budget for 2021 at the right time.

In a radio interview over the weekend, Ferrer said there will be no delays in the approval of the budget, especially since the funds are needed for the province’s fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ferrer said they will start the marathon hearings this week, wherein all department heads will be summoned in order to explain their respective proposed budgets.

The vice governor also revealed that they have set aside a large chunk of the budget in order to fund the province’s health services, and to resolve the damages caused by the pandemic.

The proposed P4.4 billion 2021 budget had already hurdled the first reading of the provincial board of Negros Occidental.

First district board member Rommel Debulgado will lead the budget hearings as chairman of the committee on budget and finance.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson submitted the proposed budget to the board two weeks ago.

The proposed general fund budget is P4,471,695,065. The allocated for personal services is P1,641,424,244, maintenance and other operating expenses – P1,374,658,871, capital outlay – P12,000,000, and special purpose appropriations – P1,443,611,950.

The P4.4 billion will come from tax revenues totaling P98,000,000, non tax revenues – P380,357,719, and Internal Revenue Allotment – P3,993,337,346.

Lacson added that the Covid-19 pandemic has caused an economic loss of P9.57 billion to Negros Occidental./DGB, WDJ