By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD CITY – Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez announced Wednesday that the proposed annual budget of Bacolod City for 2025 is P4.4 billion, an increase from the earlier estimate of P4.2 billion.
Benitez explained that the proposed budget was increased after identifying additional revenue sources during budget deliberations in Bangkok, Thailand, over the weekend.
“We finalized it with the cooperation of the councilors and department heads. Everyone is happy,” he said, noting that all department heads’ requests were accommodated in the proposed budget.
The 2025 budget is P800 million higher than the 2024 budget of P3.6 billion.
Benitez said they will submit the budget proposal to the City Council, which will hold a public hearing before the budget’s approval.
The city is expecting more than P2.2 billion from its national tax allotment (NTA) share in 2025, up from P1.9 billion in 2024.
“That’s due to our focused efforts on revenue generation. Our tax mapping is ongoing, and we have other revenue-generating activities coming next year,” the mayor added.
Among the budget priorities for 2025 are social services, including an increase in funding for the Bacolod Comprehensive Health Program (BacCHP), from P80 million to P150 million. This will cover services like the “Bayad Agad” program, funeral assistance, and the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).
“We will ensure that BacCHP continues to meet the needs of its beneficiaries. We will monitor it closely,” Benitez said.
He emphasized that proper allocation and monitoring are essential to prevent misuse of government funds.
Benitez also highlighted the city’s goal of prioritizing digitalization as part of its move towards becoming a smart city, with a significant portion of the budget directed towards health services.
In addition, Benitez mentioned that P40 million will be allocated in 2025 to establish the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) as a department. Another budget allocation will be made for the creation of the city’s investment and economic department.
