With relocation plan axed: Capitol fund under review

“Where’s the money now?”

CEBU, Philippines — That question is being raised by the administration of Governor Pamela Baricuatro as the fate of the P150-million national allocation for a proposed Cebu Capitol building in Balamban remains unsettled following the scrapping of the relocation plan.

The fund, originally intended for the construction of a new Capitol building in Barangay Cambuhawe, Balamban, is now under review as the provincial government explores whether it can still be used, realigned, or returned to the national government.

Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces explained that while a road leading to the proposed Capitol site in Balamban had already been opened, the property itself was never fully acquired by the province.

“Wala pa man nabayran ang yuta. Dili pa gani na property sa probinsya,” Empaces said.

He clarified that the P150 million was sourced from national government funds earmarked specifically for a Capitol building, but questions now loom on how the amount can be legally and practically utilized.

In fact, in a report from The Freeman in September 2025, the P150-million allocation is of Cebu’s share in the bicameral insertions to the national budget.

Cebu Province secured P4.2 billion worth of infrastructure projects from the P142.71 billion inserted during the Fiscal Year 2025 Bicameral Conference Committee (BiCam) budget deliberations.

A document obtained by The Freeman detailed a total of 57 projects allocated for Cebu, placing it among the provinces with the most listed projects under the 2025 BiCam-approved Senate insertions, now incorporated into the General Appropriations Act.

Of the total, P150 million was allotted for the construction of the Cebu Capitol Building in Balamban.

With this, Baricuatro's administration has already sought clarification from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), particularly on the status of the fund, and the basis for the road opening in the area.

“Mao na among gipangutana karon sa DPWH, pero hangtod karon wala pa sad sila’y tubag,” Empaces said.

According to him, the Baricuatro administration is cautious about letting the money go to waste, noting that the fund represents a rare opportunity for development in Balamban.

The provincial government is now reviewing possible alternatives, including the reallocation of the fund for another project within the same locality, subject to national government approval.

Empaces stressed that any use of the P150 million must still benefit Balamban, even if it will no longer be used for a Capitol building. “We’re exploring ways to maximize the fund, pero dili na para tukod og Capitol,” he said.

Among the options being considered is the establishment of an Innovation Hub that could function as a government center while also serving economic and developmental purposes.

The proposed hub could double as a revenue-generating facility and a capacity-building center focused on innovation and industry support.

Empaces said Balamban is increasingly being viewed as the industrial hub of western Cebu, making it strategic for the provincial government to invest in facilities that support meetings, training, and enterprise.

“It could even be developed as a MICE facility (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions),” he said.

However, questions also persist over the road constructed toward the original Capitol site, which Empaces described as one of the biggest concerns of the current administration. “Ang dako gyud nga pangutana ana kay ang karsada nga giablihan. Kinsa ang naghatag og order, unsa may feasibility ana?” he said.

Empaces said these issues will form part of the provincial government’s discussions with the DPWH within the current quarter.

He added that if the fund cannot be legally utilized under the revised plans, the province is prepared to return it rather than risk irregular use. “Kung dili gyud ma-utilize, ibalik na lang,” Empaces said.

The Balamban Capitol project was originally envisioned under the administration of former governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who pushed for the relocation of the provincial seat to northwestern Cebu.

In 2023, DPWH-7 reported that site development for the new Capitol in Barangay Cambuhawe was already 73 percent complete, funded by a P200-million national government allocation.

The planned building was to be a replica of the existing Capitol in Cebu City, situated on a 2.3-hectare lot 135 meters above sea level, with additional funding commitments from Senators Sonny Angara and Francis Tolentino for construction and access roads.

However, after Garcia lost in the elections, Baricuatro announced that her administration would no longer pursue the relocation, citing logistical challenges and accessibility concerns for constituents.

She later clarified that the Capitol will remain in Cebu City, effectively putting the Balamban project on hold. — (FREEMAN)