Provincial Board starts discussion on P11.9B budget

CEBU, Philippines — Following the late submission of the proposal by the executive department, the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) has decided to start discussions on the proposed P11.9-billion annual budget for 2026, even before it undergoes its first reading.

This came after the Executive Department failed to meet the mandatory October 16 deadline for budget submission under Section 318 of the Local Government Code.

Because of the delay, PB Member Celestino “Tining” Martinez, chair of the Committee on Budget, Appropriation and Finance, said the board has agreed to reverse its usual process by starting discussions immediately while the measure is still being prepared for first reading.

“Since we're pressed for time and we really want to consider passing the budget, so, I'm trying to find a way nga basi’g masugdan nalang ang deliberation sa pagkakaron when supposedly it should be done after sa first reading,” Martinez said.

In yesterday’s regular session, the annual budget was formally referred to the committee, which must still draft the appropriation ordinance before the proposal is calendared for first reading.

Martinez said he aims to place the budget measure on the agenda for this Wednesday, when items are listed for the following Monday’s session.

Under PB rules, he emphasized, there is no such thing as urgency in the annual budget process, preventing an accelerated passage.

“By the book, dapat jud unta first reading before deliberation. But it depends on us whether we proceed preliminarily,” he said, noting no objections were raised when he manifested the proposal to begin early hearings.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan Secretariat, Atty. Pulchra E. Acevedo confirmed the budget was submitted last November 7 at 6:05 pm. “Since 2013, wala pa ko kasuway nga na-late ni,” Martinez shared.

Martinez acknowledged that there are corresponding penalties for late submission but declined to discuss them, saying the priority is to review and pass the budget. He added that the delay also coincides with recent calamities, including an earthquake and Typhoon Tino.

For him, passing the budget this year will be particularly challenging given the sharp reduction from last year’s P25-billion allocation to just P11.9 billion.

"From P25-billion budget unya nahimo nalang siyang P11.9-billion so that's a big drop ... Tan-awon sad nato kung nganong na ingon ana, naa ba’y na sacrifice na services?" said Martinez.

In the past articles, Governor Pamela Baricuatro announced that it would operate on its leanest financial plan in years, following the declaration that ballooning budgets from previous administrations were “bloated” and unsustainable.

Baricuatro said fiscal discipline would now guide the Capitol moving forward. “We cannot go beyond what we’re earning. We have to live within our means,” she said in an earlier press briefing.

With the steep budget reduction, Martinez said the PB must carefully review which services and programs may be affected.

Budget deliberations are scheduled to begin Thursday and Friday, with departments notified formally by Tuesday and confirmation of attendance expected by Wednesday.

Martinez warned that if a department head fails to attend, their budget “automatically gets deferred”.

Section 323 of the Local Government Code gives the PB until 90 days from the start of the fiscal year to approve the budget.

Cebu Vice Governor Glenn Anthony Soco confirmed the budget’s referral to the Committee on Budget and Appropriation and assured that the PB will strictly follow procedural steps.

Soco noted that the proposed P11.9-billion allocation is “considerably low” compared to the current 2025 budget, saying the PB must determine what programs the Executive intends to prioritize.

“Moving forward, we will review this, deliberate this, and approve or not within the timeline provided in the Local Government Code,” Soco said.

He emphasized that the PB would evaluate the proposal “tediously in line with the budget manual,” ensuring that funding aligns with the needs of Cebuanos.

Soco also said the Board will scrutinize the programs and projects outlined by the Executive to address both ongoing and emerging needs across the province.

Martinez reiterated that the PB’s task is to “deliberate, discuss, and look at the budget” and determine what adjustments or revisions may be needed.  — (FREEMAN)