Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday, October 9, that he supports the call of the mayors of Negros Occidental for an increase in the Barangay Development Fund for insurgency-free barangays.
The mayors of Northern Negros earlier sought the help of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro for the restoration of the P20 million allocated for each identified insurgency free barangay.
Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. said the amount dropped to P4 million in 2022 and is P6 million in 2023.
Lacson said he supports the call for the increase in the fund because “the bigger the budget the better for the barangay.”
Although he is for the increase, it really boils down to the budget, Lacson said.
Maybe they can implement the increase in the fund slowly and initially raise it up to P10 million, he added.
The fund is usually used more for infrastructure and for social services in barangays where former rebels reside, Lacson said.
Escalante said Teodoro promised to help them seek the restoration of the P20 million allocation.”