BACOLOD CITY — The Provincial Development Council (PDC) of Negros Occidental approved Thursday a budget of more than PHP8 billion for its 2019 Annual Investment Plan (AIP).
The AIP, which includes the list of the programs, projects, and activities proposed for implementation by the provincial government, was presented and passed during the PDC meeting presided by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. held at the Capitol Social Hall here.
Provincial Planning and Development officer Ma. Lina Sanogal, secretary of the PDC, said the approved AIP will be submitted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for concurrence.
Sanogal said the fund sources include the General Fund, 20 percent Development Fund, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund, and Peace and Order Fund.
Others are the Gender and Development Fund, Special Education Fund, as well as grants and loans, she added.
For 2019, the AIP has a proposed allocation for economic development amounting to almost PHP1.464 billion; environment, PHP89.234 million; social services, PHP4.325 billion; institutional development, PHP1.821 billion; and infrastructure services, PHP935.026 million.
During the meeting, the body also approved the request of different departments, offices. And organizations for the inclusion of additional programs and projects in the 2018 AIP, amounting to PHP390.62 million.
Other items approved include the Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation-Enhanced Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan for 2017-2022 and the Provincial Commodity Investment Plan for Goat for 2019-2021 with a proposed budget of PHP883.249 million.
The council also approved and endorsed for funding the PHP12-billion Negros Occidental Tourism Road Infrastructure Projects under the Department of Tourism-Department of Public Works and Highways Convergence Program. (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
