THE Provincial Board of Negros Occidental approved for concurrence during its regular session Wednesday the funds for various development and disaster programs of the Provincial Government this year totaling about P508 million.
The 2017 Development Programs, Projects and Activities approved earlier by the Provincial Development Council Executive Committee will be funded through this year’s 20 percent Provincial Development Fund (PDF).
Under which, the province has allocated the biggest budget at almost P144.80 million to infrastructure development.
The amount will fund the development of Mambukal Mountain Resort under the Economic Enterprise Development Department, P6.3 million; Provincial Tourism Office, P3.5 million; Negros Occidental Language and Information Technology Center, P15 million; Provincial Engineer’s Office, P40 million; Panaad Park and Stadium, P25 million; Hospital Operations Department, P50 million; and Municipality of Hinoba-an, P5 million.
The provincial government also set aside P73.4 million for various projects under the Economic Development Committee.
These will fund project proposals of Provincial Veterinary Office, P41.85 million; Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, P20.99 million; Provincial Economic Development and Investment Center, P6 million; Katuwang Resource Center Inc., P500,000; Federation of Irrigators Association Central Negros - Bago River, P3.56 million; and Negros Economic Development Foundation Inc., P500,000.
Other allocations include P35.20 million for social development and P18.41 million for environment development projects.
The Provincial Board also approved P146.80 million for various disaster risk reduction programs this year.
The fund will be sourced from the province’s five percent Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund (PDRRMF).
Of the amount, 70 percent or P102.76 million is allocated as mitigation fund. The remaining 30 percent or P44.04 million is for the quick response fund.