The Cebu Provincial Board (PB) has approved the committee report of the proposed P25-billion budget for 2025 during its regular session on Monday, November 18.
In a report presented by Board Member Glenn Anthony Soco, chairperson of the Committee on Budget and Appropriations, the committee recommended the proposed ordinance for consideration on second reading.
The recommendation was made with the favorable endorsement of the Provincial Finance Committee “as there is no notable or significant provision proposed except for rewording of Section 2 to make emphasis that the proposed 2025 annual budget includes the provision for the second tranche of salary increase,” BM Soco said.
BM Soco then moved for the approval of the committee report, which the Provincial Board, presided by Vice Gov. Hilario Davide III, adopted.
The 2025 budget, which represents an 8.7% increase from this year’s P23 billion approved budget, is the biggest budget proposed for Cebu Province thus far.
It includes P14 billion allocation for the Capitol’s Annual Investment Plan (AIP) focused on infrastructure and development projects. The AIP was previously approved by the Provincial Development Council on October 15.
Of the total budget, P3.8 billion is earmarked for health and medical services in Capitol-run hospitals; P3.5 billion for road and bridge development as well as solar street lighting projects; and P3.3 billion for the bulk water system program that involves an initial 25 local government units (LGUs).
Other key allocations include P371 million for the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan and P1.25 billion for the Gender and Development Plan. | BJR