P14.6B capitol expenditure plan for 2027: Closer budget scrutiny eyed

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Vice Governor Glenn Anthony Soco has vowed that the provincial board will assess “thoroughly and judiciously” the provincial government’s proposed ?14.6-billion budget for 2027.

At a press briefing yesterday, Soco said the board would scrutinize the proposed allocations against the needs of Cebuano communities.

“We will take up the budget thoroughly, judiciously and review it,” said Soco.

Submitted by the executive department on Wednesday, October 14, the proposed budget is 22.7% higher than the province’s ?11.9-billion budget for 2026.

Soco said the proposal missed the cutoff for the board’s October 19 session and would most likely be taken up during next Monday’s session before its mandatory referral to the Committee on Budget and Appropriations.

Once referred, the committee will scrutinize the proposed allocations and summon provincial department heads to explain and defend their respective budget requests.

Board Member Celestino Tining Martinez III, committee chair, said the board had already requested financial documents and reports from the executive department to help lawmakers evaluate the spending plan.

The documents will help the committee assess how the funds authorized for 2026 were spent and determine whether the proposed increases for next year are justified, he said.

“We want to know what did you do... And if the increase, do we still need that? Would that be reasonable on top of the ?4 billion this year?” Martinez said.

He clarified that he could not yet assess the proposed allocations because the budget had not been formally referred to his committee.

However, Martinez said the earlier submission of the proposal compared with last year would give the board more time for a comprehensive review before approval.

Unlike last year, when the budget was submitted well past the deadline, the current proposal was submitted early enough to allow for more extensive scrutiny, he said.

The board is also considering livestreaming the budget hearings again to allow the public to monitor the deliberations.

“I would prefer (that) we do it again because we want everything to be very transparent,” said Martinez.

“The budget is your money, it's taxpayers' money. So it's but right that they should know where their money is going and what it is being spent on,” he added.

Martinez said the board must determine whether the proposed allocations adequately address the province’s outstanding needs, including road repairs, classroom rehabilitation and unfinished infrastructure projects such as bridges.

He also cited the anticipated effects of El Niño as another factor lawmakers must consider in evaluating the proposed spending priorities.

Soco, meanwhile, said the increase in the proposed budget should not be the sole basis for evaluating the spending plan. The board must first determine whether the allocations address the province’s needs, he said.

“The more important question is, what are we going to spend it on? What are the priorities of the Cebu Provincial Government? What are the needs of the people that we have to address?” he said.

Soco said the 20-member provincial board, whose members represent their respective districts, would contribute to the review by identifying their constituents’ needs.

He added that he had encouraged Martinez to make the deliberations more participatory by allowing board members who are not part of the budget committee to join discussions at the committee level.

The proposed 2027 budget identifies healthcare as the province’s biggest spending priority, with ?5.865 billion, or 40.2% of the total, earmarked for hospital improvements, medical equipment, medicines and supplies, healthcare personnel, and public health services.

The executive department is also proposing ?354.824 million for agriculture and food security, a 142% increase from this year’s allocation, to support farmers and fisherfolk through the provision of supplies, equipment and facilities.

Funding for water supply development is proposed to quadruple from ?25 million in 2026 to ?100 million next year as the province prepares for possible water shortages during El Niño.

For infrastructure, the spending plan allocates ?220 million for roads, bridges, repairs and street lighting, while another ?25 million is proposed for drainage, slope protection, seawalls and flood control projects.

The proposed budget also includes ?440 million under the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund for preparedness, response measures, training, equipment and coordination with local government units.

According to the provincial government, the increase in the overall budget is expected to be supported mainly by a higher National Tax Allotment (NTA) and projected income from provincial hospitals. — (FREEMAN)