Review of Cebu’s 2027 P14-billion budget set to start

Local

THE Cebu Provincial Board may start the budget review of the proposed P14.6 billion budget of Cebu Province for 2027 this month.

Association of Barangay Council (ABC) President and ex-officio Board Member Celestino "Tining" Martinez, who also chairs the Committee on Budget and Appropriations, said the submitted proposed budget is now at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Secretary before it will be referred to his committe.

Martinez said a budget hearing will be scheduled once the proposed budget reaches him.

The Committee on Budget and Approprations will be the one to handle the budget hearing wherein it will call the department heads of the Cebu Provincial Government to defend their respective proposed budget allocations.

"Basig we can schedule for first reading on the 26th (October). Makasugod na guro sa budget hearing, unlike last year nga delayed man to maayo, makasugod sugod na mi og sayo ron" Martinez said.

The proposed P14.6 billion budget for next year is 22.7% higher compared to this year's P11.9 billion provincial budget, wherein the bulk of it was allocated for healthcare.

The Capitol is pushing for a P5.865 billion budget for health services, hospital improvement, medical supplies, equipment, medical personnel, among others.

Other programs and projects also got higher allocations for next year, including the P100 million budget for water supply develpment from P25 million allocation this year.

As to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Managment Fund, the Capitol has proposed P440 million; P220 million for roads, bridges, street lighting and repairs; P25 million for slope protection, drainaige, seawalls and flood control mitigation; and P354.824 million for agriculture and food security as the province prepares for the impact of Super El Niño.

Martinez said they will examine the budget proposals, like in the healthcare which got the huge bulk from the proposed funding to determine what additional healthcare needs that should be addressed, why additional funding is necessary, how much is needed and where exactly it will be spent.

"We'll see kung unsay na implement last year and unsay rason nga duganganan and how much and when exactly sya ma spend. It also goes to agriculture, the same thing sa infrastracture and others" Martinez told MyTV Cebu.

As part of their thorough budget review, Martinez said, they must also examine whether previously allocated funds were spent properly and how the money was used.

They will also see and understand the source of the funding for the proposed programs and projects.

Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro said the proposed budget is within the funding capacity of the provincial government supported by the increased National Tax Allotment and projected hospital income.(MyTVCebu)