Archival told: Include urgent projects, bonuses in SB 3

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Council responded to Mayor Nestor Archival’s call for swift approval of P1.64-billion Supplemental Budget No. 3, by including proposed funds for urgent programs and the much-anticipated bonuses of employees, amid the recent challenges that hit the city.

Acting Vice Mayor Winston Pepito, in his transmittal letter to Archival, stressed that the proposal was “to cover urgent and necessary expenses,” backed by certifications from the City Treasurer and City Accountant, and formally declared “CERTIFIED AS URGENT.”

His appeal followed the Cebu City Development Council’s meeting earlier last week, where barangay leaders and sectoral representatives endorsed priority projects for inclusion in the supplemental budget.

Supplemental Budget No. 3 (SB3) covers ?144.5 million under the General Fund Proper and ?1.49 billion in subsidies for Special Accounts, bringing the total appropriation to ?1.6 billion.

Among the major allocations are ?509.8 million for the continued construction of the Cebu City Medical Center, ?200 million for lot acquisition for housing projects in northern and southern barangays, and ?663 million for recovery and rehabilitation infrastructure in typhoon-affected areas.

Funding also supports Guba Hospital, Bonbon Hospital, the Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor, city market operations, and a ?58.37 million scholarship program.

Before the vote on SB3, the Council approved the reallocation of approximately ?1.3 billion in Local Development Fund from projects that were initiated several years ago.

City Treasurer Emma Villarete explained these funds were originally intended for projects that the City Engineer has certified as no longer feasible due to rising costs, as well as savings from projects that have already been completed.

Some 2024 items were lump sum allocations without identified sites and could not proceed because they overlapped with national government projects.

Villarete explained that the realignment of funds was necessary to redirect unused balances toward current, viable priorities. He emphasized that this reallocation is permitted under the Budget Operations Manual when feasibility is lost or savings are identified.

The measure was approved without objection following Councilor Dave Tumulak’s motion, which cited provisions in the Local Government Code that allow for immediate action on appropriation ordinances certified as urgent by the mayor.

For City Hall employees, this approval marks progress toward the long-promised bonuses; however, the actual release of funds depends on national guidelines.

For residents, this move signifies renewed momentum in service delivery, infrastructure recovery, and the fulfillment of institutional commitments that had previously stalled.