𝐆𝐎𝐕. 𝐏𝐀𝐌 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐒 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐁𝐔𝐃𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐓 𝐃𝐁𝐌 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐔𝐌
Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro joined national and local leaders at the “Usapang Budget Natin Forum” organized by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Friday, February 20, at the Department of Education Ecotech Center in Sudlon, Cebu City.
The forum, held upon the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., aims to cascade the 2026 National Budget to local stakeholders, promoting transparency and strengthening public understanding of government spending.
“For me, talking openly about the budget is important because people deserve to know where their money goes. When citizens understand how funds are allocated and why decisions are made, we build not only transparency but also trust,” Gov. Baricuatro said.
Also present were DBM Acting Secretary Rolando Toledo, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Giovanni Lopez, and undersecretaries from key agencies, including Department of Public, Works, and Highways (DPWH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, along with business and civil society leaders, also attended the forum.
“As Governor and Chairperson of Regional Development Council in Central Visayas (RDC-7), I will continue to push for responsible and people-centered budgeting — one that delivers real impact and strengthens confidence in governance,” the governor added.
𝗔 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗡𝗘𝗥, 𝗣𝗘𝗢𝗣𝗟𝗘-𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗕𝗨𝗗𝗚𝗘𝗧
Secretary Toledo said the 2026 National Budget amounts to P6.793 trillion, reflecting a lean and people-centered fiscal direction.
Education received the largest allocation in government, with DepEd getting P1.34 trillion. The DOH was allocated P448.1 billion, and the DA, with P297.1 billion. The budget of these three agencies are the highest in their respective histories, demonstrating the priorities of this administration.
Local governments will also receive boost from the National Government, with the National Tax Allotment (NTA) reaching P1.19 trillion, while the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) is set at P57.87 billion.
The DPWH was allocated P530.9 billion, a 40 percent reduction from last year following the President’s directive to cut locally funded flood control projects. Likewise, unprogrammed appropriations are also set to their lowest levels since 2019. Of this, P26.693 billion is earmarked for Cebu’s infrastructure investments.
“Ang 2026 national budget ay hindi lamang plano ng pamahalaan. Ito ay salamin ng ating malasakit bilang bayan. Ito ay disiplinado, responsible at higit sa lahat ito ay makatao,” said Secretary Toledo.
𝗠𝗔𝗝𝗢𝗥 𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗥𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗖𝗘𝗕𝗨
The DOTr, with a P91.3-billion budget, is prioritizing major projects in Cebu. These include the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project, rehabilitation of Terminal 1 of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), the New Cebu International Container Port, and the Metro Cebu Urban Mass Rapid Transit (UMRT) — a proposed railway system connecting Cebu City to Danao City in the north, Carcar City in the south, and the MCIA in the east.
The forum underscored the National Government’s push to align fiscal discipline with inclusive growth, with Cebu positioned as a key partner in delivering development on the ground. /𝑪𝑨𝑷𝑰𝑻𝑶𝑳 𝑷𝑰𝑶, 𝑷𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝒀𝑱𝑩, 𝑨𝑹𝑱
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