THE Provincial Board of Negros Occidental approved during its regular session Wednesday, February 7, this year’s 20 percent development fund amounting to almost P393 million.
The amount will fund 43 priority programs and projects identified by various sectoral representatives.
The bulk of fund was appropriated for various projects for local government units (LGUs) and non-government organizations (NGOs) under the Office of the Governor, at P65 million.
The province also earmarked a bigger amount, almost P32 million, for upgrading of hospital facilities under the Hospital Operations Department.
The remaining funds were allocated to different projects under the infrastructure, economic, social and environmental sectors.
Second District Board Member Salvador Escalante Jr., chairman committee on appropriations, budget and finance, said they also approved a supplemental budget on Wednesday to fund these programs using the 20 percent Provincial Development Fund (PDF) for 2018.
The P393 million forms part of about P600 million PDF included in the province’s P3.5-billion annual budget this year.
Escalante said the P215 million was already earmarked as payments for the loans acquired by the Provincial Government.
“Before reaching the SP (Sangguniang Panlalawigan or Provincial Board) for approval and appropriation, the programs to be funded through the 20 percent PDF have passed through Provincial Development Council (PDC) Executive Committee,” he added.
These programs and projects are included in the 2018 Annual Investment Program consistent with the thrusts of the Provincial Government under the Negros First as its strategic development framework, the PDC, in a resolution, said.
Aside from the 20 percent PDF, the SP also approved Wednesday another supplemental budget amounting to P30.5 million.
The amount will fund various projects, mainly developments at the Panaad Park and Stadium at Barangay Mansilingan in Bacolod City.
These are the establishment of Negros First Animal Hub with livestock and poultry auction markets, and Bamboo Hub, among others.
Escalante said the source of fund is the unexpended balance from the province’s 20 percent development fund in 2016.
