The provincial government here will operate on a PHP6.88 billion budget in 2026 — PHP5.53 billion for the General Fund and PHP1.35 billion for the Local Economic Enterprise.

The budget, approved on its final reading during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial board) on Tuesday afternoon, is higher than its current budget of PHP4.2 billion.

In a media interview on Wednesday, Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said the budget would help realize development programs under the “MoRProGRes Iloilo,” which pushes for quality health and social services, economic growth, food security, resilient infrastructure, and environmental protection.

He thanked Vice Governor Nathalie Ann Debuque for the early approval of the budget so they could “hit the ground running” at the start of 2026.

“This budget, we really did our best to have a developmental budget. We tried that, as much as we can, we fund the significant infrastructure requirements and other programs. As a whole, we have the capacity for everything that we do here in the province,” he said.

Based on Appropriation Ordinance 2025-03, the General Fund will be sourced from the total tax revenue of about PHP281.5 million, total non-tax revenue of PHP152.5 million, and external sources worth PHP5.09 billion.

For the local economic enterprise, the fund will be sourced from non-tax revenue amounting to PHP683.6 million and external sources of more than PHP666.01 million. (PNA)