Cebu prov’l board to start budget deliberations after long weekend

Local

SOME serious work awaits members of the Cebu Provincial Board after the long “Kalag-Kalag” weekend.

The board has already set the schedule of budget deliberations for the proposed 2027 annual budget of P14.6 billion.

The budget deliberations will start on Nov. 3 wherein the local finance offices—the Provincial Treasurer, Provincial Budget Office, and Provincial Accounting Office—will be the first to present their respective budget proposals.

The discussion will start at 9:30 a.m. at the 2nd Floor Legislative Conference Room in the Legislative Building.

On Nov. 4, seven offices will defend their proposed 2027 budgets.

These include the Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator, Legal Office, Provincial Information and Communications Technology, Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, Provincial Vice Governor, Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and the Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

The following day (Nov. 5), the Provincial General Services Officer, Provincial Veterinarian, and Provincial Agriculturist will take the floor to present their budget proposals for next year.

The next schedule of budget deliberations will be on Nov. 10, wherein the Provincial Information Office, Operations of the Cebu South and North Bus Terminals, and Provincial Governor's Office/Administrator's Office will have their turn to defend their proposed budgets.

On the fifth day (Nov. 11), the Provincial Assessor, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, and the Operations of the Cebu Provincial Inter-LGU Waterworks System will defend their budgets.

On Nov. 12, the Provincial Engineering Office and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office are scheduled to present their proposals.

On the last day, which is set for Nov. 17, the budget proposals of the provincial and district hospitals, including the Provincial Health Office, will be scrutinized by the provincial board.

The proposed annual budget of Cebu Province was formally referred to the Committee on Budget and

The budget committe will spearhead the budget deliberations.

Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro submitted a proposed P14.6-billion budget for 2027, a 22.7% increase from the 2026 budget of ₱11.9 billion.

The budget is based on projected revenues, mainly from higher National Tax Allotment and hospital income.

Among the budget priorities are healthcare, with ₱5.865 billion (40.2%) allocated for hospital improvements, medicines, equipment, personnel, and better access to medical services; agriculture, with P354.824 million, a 142% increase, to support farmers, fisherfolk, and food security; water supply, amounting to P100 million, increased from P25 million this year, in preparation for the anticipated effects of Super El Niño; infrastructure, with P220 million for roads, bridges, repairs, and street lighting, plus P25 million for drainage, flood control, and other protective structures; and disaster preparedness, which amounts to P440 million for training, equipment, emergency response, and coordination with local government units.(MyTVCebu)