No firing of workers in Negros Occidental despite budget constraints

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson. (File photo from the Facebook page of the Negros Occidental provincial government)

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines — Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson will not lay off casuals and job order employees despite the province’s budget constraints next year.

“If ever we have to reduce, it’s really based on performance, not because of budgetary constraints,” he said on Friday, Sept. 16.

“What we can do is review if they are really doing their job. We cannot be lenient now because our budget is lower by P760 million” he added, referring to the reduction in the National Tax Allotment share of the province next year.

Lacson submitted a proposed P5.1 billion 2023 budget for Negros Occidental to the Provincial Board for review on Thursday afternoon.

He said the budget was geared towards addressing the Abanse Negrense priority programs such as agriculture, health support, assistance to rice farmers, and scholarships.

Lacson said P40 million has also been allocated for the provincial government’s COVID-19 response which hopefully would not be used so it could be realigned for other needs of the province.

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