THE Provincial Development Council (PDC) of Negros Occidental has approved the P8 billion Annual Investment Plan (AIP) for 2019 during the PDC regular meeting, presided by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. at the Capitol Social Hall on Thursday, May 31.

The AIP is the list of the programs, projects, and activities which the provincial government will implement next year.

The total amount is divided into different sectors such as Economic Development with P1,463,989,806; Environment with P89,234,000; Social Services with P4,325,766,405; Institutional Development with P1,821,221,804; and Infrastructure Services with P935,026,779.

The council has also approved the Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation - Enhanced, Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan for 2017-2022; as well as the Provincial Commodity Investment Plan for 2019-2021 with an estimated budget of P883,249,000.

The Negros Occidental Tourism Road Infrastructure Projects for CY 2019 with a P12 billion proposed budget was also approved and endorsed for funding under the DOT-DPWH Convergence Program.

The council also approved the request of the different departments/offices/organizations for the inclusion of additional programs and projects in the 2018 AIP amounting to P390,620,651.

Also present in the meeting were Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Board Member Salvador Escalante, Jr., PDC Secretary Dr. Ma. Lina Sanogal, and several other mayors, and representatives of other government agencies, among others. (PR)