Cebu Capitol Eyes P14.6-B Budget as El Niño Threat Looms

The Cebu Provincial Government is seeking a P14.6-billion budget for 2027, a 22.7 percent increase from this year’s P11.9 billion, with health care receiving the largest share and funding for water supply development rising fourfold.

Gov. Pamela Baricuatro submitted the proposed budget to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (PB) on Thursday, Oct. 15, according to a statement posted on the provincial government’s public information Facebook page.

“For Cebuano families, this means investing in what matters most to their everyday lives: healthcare they can access, support for those who produce our food, safer roads and bridges, and communities better prepared for disasters,” she said.

Baricuatro said the higher allocation would help the Province address the growing needs of its communities.

The proposed budget is based on projected revenues, including an expected increase of more than P700 million in the National Tax Allotment and projected income of P2 billion from provincial hospitals.

She said the proposal remains within the Province’s projected financial capacity and is below the P25-billion budget approved for 2025.

The Province’s 2026 budget was approved at P11.9 billion on Jan. 7, following the PB’s realignment of P179.02 million from reduced allocations for local government assistance and disaster response.

Health care gets biggest allocation

Health care accounts for P5.865 billion, or 40.2 percent, of the proposed 2027 budget. The allocation is intended to fund hospital improvements, medical equipment, medicines and supplies, health personnel, and public health services.

Baricuatro said the provincial government aims to develop its hospitals into fully functional Level 2 facilities and upgrade district hospitals from infirmaries to Level 1 hospitals.

She added that increased hospital revenues would help sustain operations and finance improvements, but emphasized that health care quality and accessibility would remain the primary measures of success.

Agriculture funding declines, water budget increases

The proposed allocation for agriculture and food security stands at P354.82 million, down from the P447 million originally requested by the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO).

The proposed amount is also lower than the P365 million allocated to agriculture in 2026, according to PAO chief Roldan Saragena.

Meanwhile, funding for water supply development would increase from P25 million this year to P100 million in 2027 as the Province prepares for the anticipated effects of a very strong El Niño phenomenon in the coming months.

The fourfold increase is intended to support water-related development efforts as communities prepare for potentially prolonged dry conditions.

Infrastructure and disaster preparedness

The proposed budget includes P220 million for roads, bridges, repairs and street lighting.

Another P25 million is earmarked for drainage, slope protection, seawalls and flood control projects.

The provincial government is also proposing P440 million for the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management fund. The allocation would support training, equipment and coordination between the provincial government and its component local government units.

Baricuatro said the budget was developed following consultations with government agencies, civil society organizations and members of the PB.

Provincial Board to review proposal

The proposed budget will undergo legislative deliberations before the PB can approve the appropriation ordinance.

“The proposed budget now goes through legislative review and authorization. I look forward to working with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (PB) to turn these priorities into services and projects that our people can feel in their daily lives,” Baricuatro said.

Under Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code, local chief executives must submit their proposed annual budgets to their respective legislative bodies by Oct. 16. The legislative body has until Dec. 31 to deliberate on the proposal and pass the appropriation ordinance.