Budget reduction not political but procedural

CEBU, Philippines — To prove his point that it's not about politics, Cebu Board Member Celestino “Tining” Martinez III clarified that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s (SP) recommendation to reduce the proposed 2026 budget for the Cebu People’s Action Center (CPAC) was compelled by legal and institutional requirements.

Martinez issued the clarification in response to public statements by Governor Pamela Baricuatro opposing the funding reduction, saying the controversy stemmed from legal constraints under the Local Government Code rather than resistance to CPAC’s service-oriented mandate.

In a Facebook post, Martinez said he believes the issue was already settled following a meeting last Tuesday with provincial administrator Ace Durano and assistant provincial administrator Aldwin Empaces, where the matter was thoroughly discussed and an agreed course of action was reached.

Martinez emphasized that the Committee on Budget and Appropriations, that he chairs, has a limited mandate, confined to evaluating proposals for items already included in a duly-approved budget such as the 2025 budget --that are proposed for reappropriation in the succeeding fiscal year.

"The Committee on Budget and Appropriations is not mandated to determine whether a program or activity is acceptable, practical, or viable," reads a portion on Martinez' post

He also addressed the governor’s remarks that she would disclose the votes of board members who allegedly “voted to diminish CPAC’s capacity,” noting that SP deliberations are livestreamed through Beyond Legislation and are already open to public scrutiny.

Martinez described as “disheartening” the decision to elevate the issue to social media. For him, the SP has consistently maintained transparency and openness to dialogue with the executive branch, despite what he described as the late submission of the proposed budget.

"We find the decision to raise this issue publicly, particularly through social media, disheartening," he noted.

At the core of the issue, Martinez said, is the legal status of CPAC, which was created through an executive order and not through an enabling ordinance passed by the SP.

He explained that under the Local Government Code, the SP is expressly prohibited from appropriating funds for an office that has not been legally created through an ordinance.

Citing Section 463(c)(2) of the Code, Martinez said the power to create provincial offices rests with the SP, while Section 468(a)(1)(vii) grants it authority to determine positions, salaries, and other benefits of provincial employees.

Martinez contrasted CPAC’s situation with that of the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CPDRRMO), which was created through an ordinance early in the governor’s term, clearly defining its functions, plantilla positions, and corresponding appropriations.

Because the CPDRRMO followed the proper legal process, he said the governor was able to validly propose funding for it in the 2026 provincial budget.

In CPAC’s case, Martinez said the SP was constrained to reduce its proposed allocation due to limitations imposed by law, as well as rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit and the Department of Budget and Management.

“Appropriation must follow creation,” Martinez stressed.

He added that releasing public funds to an office without legal existence would constitute an illegal expenditure.

Martinez added that the SP would have readily approved funding for CPAC had an enabling ordinance been enacted prior to the submission of the governor’s budget proposal, consistent with the process followed by other provincial offices.

He further clarified that the committee has no authority to create offices, as such action requires a separate ordinance defining duties, functions, and authorizing appropriations --elements he said are currently absent in CPAC’s case.

In previous reports, Baricuatro warned that defunding CPAC could weaken the Capitol’s ability to respond swiftly to the needs of Cebuanos, describing the center as a volunteer-driven mechanism that provides coordinated assistance, especially during disasters and emergencies.

As the SP continues its review of the proposed ?14-million allocation for CPAC ahead of the budget’s second reading on December 22, Martinez reiterated that questions on the program’s necessity and viability may be addressed later. But for now, he said, the SP’s duty is to ensure strict compliance with procedural and legal requirements. — (FREEMAN)