By Daniel Que
The Pangasinan provincial board approved in its regular session on October 28 the 2025 annual budget for the provincial government totaling P7.1 billion.
This budget marks an increase of P1.5 billion from the previous year.
Despite the challenges posed recently by tropical storm “Kristine,” which impacted Pangasinan and caused a storm surge in coastal areas such as Lingayen and Binmaley, the board effectively conducted a series of budget hearings. The marathon session held on October 24 was completed by noon.
Vice Governor Mark Ronald Lambino, who presided over the session, pointed out that last year’s budget was also finalized in a single day. He emphasized their efficiency, stating, “Even with the recent typhoon, we were unhampered in doing our work, and we should do it as effectively and expeditiously as possible.”
Governor Ramon Guico III presented the annual budget during the marathon hearing. The proposed budget was later approved by the plenary under Appropriation Ordinance No. 5-2024, which enacts the general fund budget for the provincial government from January 1 to December 31, 2025.
Lambino noted that a significant portion of the budget will go towards personnel services, with substantial allocations for social services, agriculture, education, and health. Additionally, P1 billion has been set aside for the development fund, aimed at various infrastructure projects across the province.
“Our goal is to expedite budget hearings to facilitate pre-procurement procedures, ensuring that projects planned for the first quarter of the new year can commence immediately,” Lambino added.
Meanwhile, Lambino noted that the budget increase can be attributed to several key factors.
First, the provincial government’s share in the National Tax Allocation (NTA) rose by approximately P800 to P900 million.
Second, there has been an increase in local income, totaling around P600 million. “With the rise in both NTA and locally generated income, we see a difference of about P1.5 billion compared to the 2024 approved annual budget,” Lambino explained.
“Like any other local government unit’s budget, we remain focused on the main sectors,” he added.