Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the provincial government will not reduce its casuals and job order workers because of budgetary constraints next year.
“If ever we have to reduce, it’s really based on performance, not because of budgetary constraints,” he said Friday, September 16.
“What we can do is review if they are really doing the job that they are supposed to do…we cannot be lenient now because our budget is lower by P760 million”, he said, referring to the reduction in the National Tax Allotment share of the province next year.
Lacson submitted a proposed P5.1 billion 2023 budget for Negros Occidental to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for review on Thursday afternoon.
Lacson said the budget is geared towards addressing the Abanse Negrense priority programs such as agriculture, health support, assistance to rice farmers and scholarships.
He said P40 million has also been allocated for the provincial government’s COVID-19 response that hopefully they will not have to use, and can realign for other needs of the province.
The World of Health Organization is confident that COVID-19 cases are really going down now, Lacson said.
Lacson also echoed the statement of Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez on Thursday that there is no need to sign an agreement of cooperation between the province and the city.
“The relationship of Mayor Albee with the province goes beyond any document,” he said.*