Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan may approve the P5.7 billion Negros Occidental proposed budget for 2022 by the second week of November.
The SP Committee on Finance is set to conduct hearings on the proposed budget this week, he said.
The budget priority is to address the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic recovery of the province, Ferrer said.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson earlier said while there is a dramatic increase in the province’s share of the National Tax Allotment, formerly the Internal Revenue Allotment, it is still an uphill climb with the continuing battle against COVID-19.
The health crisis has shifted priorities and spending policies, he said.
“Our foremost goal is to get back on track at the soonest possible time, Lacson said.
The P5,719,337,346 budget will be sourced from local revenues totaling P329,000,000 and the National Tax Allotment of P5,390,337,346.*