BALANGA CITY, Bataan — The Bataan provincial board on Friday announced that the province has approved P3,003,216,000 for 2023, a little bit lower than the annual budget last year for this fast emerging industrial province in Central Luzon.

Gov. Joet Garcia and Vice Gov. Ma. Cris Garcia, SP presiding officer, showed a copy of the approved annual budget to local media.

The annual budget focuses more on various developmental programs and projects intended for next year. It is lower than the P3.45 billion in 2022, it was learned.

In his statement to local newsmen, Provincial board secretary Mark Quezon said the decrease in the annual budget was brought about by the decrease from national tax allotment, adding the basis for the allotment is 3rd preceding fiscal year which is 2020, start of the pandemic.