ANTIQUE – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) here has approved a P163.4-million supplemental budget to fund salary adjustments for provincial government employees, wages for contract-of-service workers, and the staging of the 51st Binirayan Festival.
During its regular session on Monday, September 15, at the New Legislative Building, the SP passed Supplemental Budget No. 4 for Fiscal Year 2025 on third and final reading.
The bulk of the allocation — P103.4 million — will cover wages of employees, utilities, and other operational expenses.
Around P31.9 million was earmarked for the implementation of the first-class province salary rate adjustment, granting a 5 percent basic pay increase for about 1,300 regular employees, retroactive to January 2025.
The SP likewise approved P8.6 million for the second tranche of step increments under the Salary Standardization Law (SSL), set to take effect on October 22, 2025.
Part of the fund also supports the creation of plantilla positions under the Office of the Provincial Assessor in line with Republic Act 12001, or the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act.
Meanwhile, P19.1 million was set aside for the 51st Binirayan Festival, which will run from December 1 to 29 and feature nearly 30 cultural, historical, and community events.
The supplemental budget will be sourced mainly from Antique’s savings in prior years and the 2025 appropriations for vacant positions amounting to P148.4 million. The remaining P15.1 million will come from balances of terminal leave benefits, Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses, and allocations for projects and equipment./PN
