𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐏𝐒 𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐏𝐃𝐂 𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐎𝐑𝐒𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓
The Cebu Provincial Development Council (PDC) Executive Committee approved on Monday, March 2, 2026, additional Programs, Activities and Projects (PAPs) of five more national government agencies (NGAs) totaling around P66.68 billion.
The biggest part of the amount (P34.38 billion) is for the Department of Education’s (DepEd) national program dubbed “Advancing Climate-smart, Quality, Inclusive, and Resilient Education (Acquire), which requires the endorsement of all PDCs of the country.
The meeting came less than three weeks after the PDC Full Council Meeting last Feb. 13, when members agreed to accept additional PAPs by NGAs for endorsement to the Regional Development Council (RDC) for possible inclusion with the 2027 national budget.
In its presentation, the DepEd
explained that the amount, which would be funded by a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is the country’s response to the projected 188,000 shortfall of semi-skilled workers in 2035.
Through the “Acquire” program, DepEd would upscale its Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) offerings as well as the senior high school’s “Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics” (STEM) strand.
Aside from an ADB loan, Acquire would also be partly funded by grants from the International Finance Facility for Education (USD12.5 million); Global Partnership for Education (USD10 million to USD 12.5 million), and Education Above All (USD10 million to USD20 million).
The committee, with Cordova Mayor and League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Cebu President Cesar Suan as presiding officer, asked why DepEd identified a loan as a fund source instead of realigned funds. (Mayor Suan took over from Gov. Pamela S. Baricuatro as presiding officer as she has to meet visiting foreign dignitaries.)
DepEd replied that it has “lots of priorities” for the national revenue allocation, hence the ADB loan was identified for this particular program, which is a national allocation but requires the endorsement of all PDCs and RDCs of the country.
The second biggest additional PAP was that of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-7 at P31.98 billion for 348 projects, which includes a P200-million seawall and a P200-million road with slope protection for Cordova town. (DPWH already had a P63.54-billion PAP for 1,336 projects endorsed by the PDC during the Feb. 13 Full Council Meeting.)
The other additional PAPs were Department of Science and Technology’s P167.42 million, which includes a P15-million “Science Center for Sustainable Development” that would be a first in the country; and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau’s P150 million for the “Metro Cebu Solid Waste Master Plan Study”.
The Office of the Provincial Prosecutor also requested for endorsement for a P250,000 budget for its internet infrastructure; P500,000 for the training of law enforcement officers, and a vehicle, but the body referred these instead to the Provincial Peace and Order Council due to the immediacy of the needs.
All PAPs endorsed by the PDC will be tackled during the RDC’s Full Council Meeting on March 30. /𝑪𝑨𝑷𝑰𝑻𝑶𝑳 𝑷𝑰𝑶, 𝑷𝑷𝑫𝑶
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