VICE Governor Jeffrey Ferrer sees an early approval of the Provincial Board of the proposed 2021 Provincial Budget.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has submitted a proposed P4.4 billion for next year.
"Maybe the SP (Provincial Board) will approve it early, compared to last year," Ferrer said.
Ferrer, who attended the 4th Quarter Joint Peace and Order and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Councils meeting held Monday, November 9, at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City, said that they have a time tablet of two weeks to approve the proposed 2021 budget.
The proposed budget next year is up by more than P200 million, compared to the 2020 budget.
Ferrer said they wanted to fast-track the approval of the proposed budget, since the funds are badly needed to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Provincial Board Committee on Finance chaired by Board Member Rommel Debulgado has already started the deliberations of the proposed budget.
Ferrer said they will only summon those department heads with budget being questioned. If there is no question on the budget among board members, the concerned department head will no longer be invited on the hearing, he added.
The proposed 2021 general fund budget is P4,471,695,065, with P1,641,424,244 allocated for personal services, maintenance and other operating expenses - P1,374,658,871, capital outlay - P12,000,000 and special purpose appropriations - P1,443,611,950.
Of the P4.4 billion proposed budget, P3,993,337,346 comes from the Internal Revenue Allotment, P98,000,000 from tax revenues and P380,357, 719 from non tax-revenues.
The Negros Occidental SP is targeting to approve the budget before the end of November this year.
