Several employees from the Provincial Veterinary Office in Misamis Oriental assigned to quarantine checkpoints across the province are feared to get their salary only until April 2026 after the office’s annual budget was cut by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP).

From the proposed P4.7 million budget for the office for 2026, only P960,000 was approved, which caused challenges in sustaining its regulatory functions, particularly the operation of quarantine checkpoints.

Most of the personnel assigned in these areas are employees under job order status.

According to provincial veterinarian, Dr. Benjie Resma, the approved budget no longer includes funds for the salaries of job order workers.

“Ang mga quarantine personnel mga job orders mani sila isa lang ka tao ang regular didto nga ga uban sa ila mao na akong kabalak-an 38 ni akong JO tanan,” Resma said.

Resma warned that losing these personnel could increase the risk of animal diseases spreading again in the province, especially African Swine Fever (ASF), which remains under watch.

“Naay mga area nga positive possible na mosulod diri unta dili na mahitabo nga hurot hurot ang mga baboy wala na ra ba budget for compensation sa mga farmer,” Resma added.

Meanwhile, finance committee chair and Board Member Rommel Maslog defended the budget cuts, saying there are alternative ways to sustain the workforce of PVet and other regulatory bodies of the province.

“Ang probinsya daghan mga vacant plantilla positons kay ang uban walay mag qualify unya ang uban naa nay nakita nga tao dili eligible daghan rason, 4th month naman karon giingnan nako ang budget officer ganina nga pwde namo mag-declare og savings sa atong PS nga maoy atong gamiton nga i-sweldo,” Maslog said.

Maslog also stood by the SP’s decision to reduce the annual budget, citing recommendations from the Commission on Audit (COA).

COA had reportedly urged the province to reassess its income projections after repeatedly failing to meet revenue targets in the past years.

“Mabag-o ra ang maong hunahuna kung makita namo nga naa ta’y additional revenues kay kini ato maski naa’y dili mosugot pero kung naa mapakita nga bag-o nga revenue ma kumbinsi mani sila,” Maslog said.