The provincial government of Negros Occidental has proposed a P1,573,494,771 budget for year 2010, an increase of almost P196 million, compared to 2009 budget of P1.3 billion, records of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan show.

Board Member Miller Serondo, Finance committee chairperson of the Negros Occidental SP, yesterday said the proposed P1.5 billion budget was already approved on its first reading.

The Economic Enterprise Development Department of the province of Negros Occidental also proposed a budget of P514, 015,378 for next year.

Of the P1.5 billion proposed budget, P28.9 million has been allocated to the Provincial Health Office, which, according to board members during their regular session yesterday, will be scrutinized.

This was after Board Member Melvin Ibanez, Health committee chairperson, questioned Provincial Health Officer Dr. Luisa Efren on what he called an “alarming increase” in the number of dengue-fever fatalities, from January to October this year, despite their massive drive against the tropical disease.

PHO records show that 19 persons died from dengue within 10 months of 2009, compared to 11 the whole last year. However, the number of dengue dropped from 1,001 last year, to 889 this year, or by 11 percent.

Efren, who was summoned yesterday by the SP to update them on their campaign against tropical diseases, including dengue, in Negros Occidental, debunked claims that there is an ongoing shortage of blood supply available for dengue-stricken patients, and lack of support extended to them.

Efren further claimed that, despite a limited budget, they were successful in their drive against dengue, citing a drop in the number of dengue patients, compared to last year.

Serondo and Ibanez said there is a need to revisit the dengue campaign, and review the system in the implementation of health programs in Negros Occidental.

“The system is not good. We have to do something about it,” Ibanez said.*GPB

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