The Negros Occidental Provincial Development Council approved a P1,020,542,000 supplemental budget for its 2021 annual investment program today, February 19.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, who presided over the PDC meeting at the Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City with other participants joining via Zoom, said the PDC-approved supplemental budget will be submitted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for further approval.
The entire P1 billion is not available at this time, but the proposed projects need to be included in the annual investment program so funds can be provided for them when available, Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator Marlin Sanogal said.
The supplemental budget included P10 million for the creation a COVID-19 molecular laboratory at the Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital in Kabankalan City and P32.2 million for the provincial government’s purchase of COVID-19 vaccines.
The top four supplemental budget allocations are for the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist – P549.8 million Provincial Engineer’s Office – P214.7 million, Hospital Operations Division – P182.7 for the improvement of various hospitals, and Special Programs and Concerns Division – P115.5 million for the improvement of the Panaad Park and Stadium.
The approved supplemental budget for the Provincial Administrator’s Office – P40 million, Provincial Veterinary Office – P33.8 million, Governor’s Office – P31.6 million, Provincial Economic Development Investment Center – P22 million, Provincial Health Office – P18 million, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office for disaster relief operations – P7.5 million;
Organic Farming Development and Promotion Division – P3.1 million, Economic Enterprise Development Department – P3 million for the purchase of a Mambukal Resort ambulance, Provincial Disaster Management Program Division – P2 million, Provincial Environment Management Office – P2 million, Promotion and Information Section – P2 million, Negros Occidental Tourism Division – P2 million;
Negros Occidental Parole and Probation Coordinating Center – P1 million, Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office – P1million, Bureau of Fire Protection – P1 million, Philippine Red Cross emergency field hospital – P1 million Department of Education – P500,000, Negros Occidental Scholarship Program Division – P500,000 and Provincial Human Resource Management Office – P265,000.*