The Negros Occidental provincial government, Bacolod City, and 31 other local government units in the province will receive ₱2,044,800,338 under the Bawat Bayan Makikinabang (BBM) program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, this year, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Sunday, Feb. 22.
The provincial government will receive ₱342,000,000, and the rest of the ₱2 billion will go to the towns and cities for rice distribution programs and infrastructure, Lacson said.
The mayors have already been informed of their shares, Lacson said.
Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) hosted a meeting attended by former Eastern Samar governor Ben Evardone, Lacson, and the mayors of Negros Occidental at the house of Bacolod Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez in Bacolod City on Saturday.
Evardone was instructed by the Office of the President to help explain the BBM program to the local officials, Lacson said.
“In fact, Negros Occidental was his first visit simply because we are so united here, there’s no problem between the governor, the congressmen, and the mayors, so it’s easier to talk to us,” he said.
Under the BBM program, every province, city, and municipality will directly receive financial assistance from the Local Government Support Fund, Lacson said.
“The amount has already been set and we just have to upload our request. We were given instructions and it is up to the LGUs on how to spend the money,” he said.
The governor said 50 percent of the funds will go to rice distribution programs and 50 percent to infrastructure projects like roads, water systems, and multipurpose buildings.*
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