Propose a realistic budget for 2025

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia the other day told department heads he doesn’t want to see an “unrealistic budget” for 2025.

“I just want a realistic budget that is a budget that we can implement,” he said during the city government’s budget forum for the 2025 annual budget last Friday, as reported by the city’s News and Information team.

Garcia said, he doesn’t want to see departments funding projects that that get funded but they could not implement.

He said any projects set in 2025 should also be done on the same year and not to be realized only after five years.

This instruction, he said, he also already relayed to the barangays.

“A budget that is doable, implementable, and realistic—mao ra gyud na akong hangyo ninyo. Because I want to it to be tangible, something that we can see, something that we can feel, something we can touch,” Garcia said.

On the other hand, he also told the department heads not to hesitate in allocating more funds for non-routine projects, as long as they redound to the benefit of the public.

“I know all of you, departments, you have your daily routine activities, you have your daily routine tasks and duties. I also want you to have projects and programs that are not daily and there’s something that is extraordinary,” Garcia said.

“And, please, ayaw kaikog to use the funds of the government,” he added.

In a related development, acting City Administrator Kristine Joyce Batucan also said that the department heads should really study the budget, including the detailed allocations, they know what to focus on as part of the direction of the administration.

“One of the goals is para you, as head of offices and department head, will be able to know as well unsay mga major thrusts, policies ang atong tutokan sa calendar year 2025,” Batucan was quoted as saying. — (FREEMAN)