By CESAR JOLITO III

The Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan unanimously approved the P7,618,490,053 provincial budget for 2026, marking a major push for enhanced social services, stronger disaster response and expanded development programs across the province.

Presided over by Vice Governor Joeben Alonso, the budget was approved on second and subsequently third reading following the motion of Board Member Marxlen de la Cruz, chairperson of the Committee on Finance and Budget.

All board members present expressed full support, allowing the budget to pass without objection.

The 2026 appropriations reflect an increase of P1.1 billion — or 17.98 percent — compared to this year’s P6.457 billion budget.

Provincial officials said the expansion underscores their commitment to scale up strategic investments in priority sectors, including health care, agriculture, infrastructure, social welfare, and disaster management.

A significant portion of the budget is dedicated to post-disaster recovery initiatives, following a series of destructive weather events in 2024 and 2025, capped by the recent impact of Typhoon “Tino.”

Strengthening resilience measures, rebuilding damaged communities, and supporting affected families are among the administration’s top priorities.

Upgrades to provincial hospitals and rural health units also form a key component of next year’s spending plan, aligned with the goal of expanding access to quality health services under the province’s long-term development strategy.

The 2026 budget further provides for the continued rollout of infrastructure projects under the Abanse Negrense agenda, along with sustained support for programs aiding economic recovery from the pandemic’s lingering effects.

With the approval of the budget, the provincial government is set to implement a strengthened roadmap for growth and resilience in the coming year./CJ, WDJ