THE provincial board approved the 2025 budget for Pangasinan amounting to P7.1 billion, up 27% from this year’s P5.6 billion allocation during its regular session on October 28.

Despite the challenges posed by Tropical Storm Kristine the previous week, the provincial board conducted a series of budget hearings on Oct. 24 to ensure timely approval despite difficulties posed by the storm surge that affected coastal areas like Lingayen and Binmaley.

Vice Governor Mark Lambino, presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), noted that last year’s budget was also finalized in just one day.

He underscored the efficiency of the process, saying, “Even with the recent typhoon, we were unhampered in doing our work, and we had to do it as effectively and expeditiously as possible.”

Governor Ramon Guico III made the opening presentation for the annual budget during the marathon hearings. The proposed budget was later presented to the plenary and officially approved under Appropriation Ordinance No. 5-2024.

“Our goal is to complete budget hearings swiftly to facilitate pre-procurement procedures. This way, we can ensure that projects slated for the first quarter of the new year can commence immediately,” Lambino said.
Majority of the budget is allocated to personnel services, with significant portions also designated for social services, agriculture, education, and health, while P1 billion has been earmarked for the development fund to cover various infrastructure projects throughout the province. (Eva Visperas)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments