Despite the election fever, the P2,884,929,000 budget of the province for 2016 was unanimously approved yesterday by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental, that is dominated by a local political party not allied with Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr.

It was recalled that the 2013 budget of Negros Occidental, deliberations on which started as early as November of 2012, was only approved by the provincial council, two weeks after the election.

Board Member Salvador Escalante, chairperson of the SP committee on Finance and Appropriations, said yesterday that the annual budget of the province was usually approved on the second week of December.

But this time, Escalante said the budget for 2016 was approved on the first week of November this year, although it could had been approved in the last week of October, if not for some corrections and amendments.

Vice Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, who presided over the regular session, stressed that this is the third year in a row that the SP has approved the budget before the end of the current year.

“This is in keeping with our commitment to fiscal efficiency in governance, as well as principled collaboration in public service”, he said.

“We don't let the political season, nor our belonging to the different political parties, adversely affect our everyday work in government,” Lacson added.

The election period starts in January next year.

The SP, on motion of Escalante, also approved the P1,023,739,978 budget of the newly-created Hospital Operation Division, and P66,306,202 for the Economic Enterprise Development Department of the province.

When the budget is approved on time, stability is ensured and this paves the way for unhampered delivery of services when the calendar turns to Jan. 1, 2016, Lacson said.

The budget for HOD was increased by more than P300 million, to increase the level of hospital operations, including the upgrading of Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, Lorenzo Zayco District Hospital in Kabankalan City, Calatrava District Hospital and Merceditas Montilla District Hospital in Sipalay City.

The upgrading of hospitals in the cities of Silay, Kabankalan and Sipalay also aims at achieving “24/7 improved health and hospital services delivery to constituents” in the northern and southern parts of the province, in line with the optimum health care agenda under the Negros First Agenda, Marañon said in his budget message to the SP.*GPB

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