Council okays P33 billion AIP

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council approved the Annual Investment Plan (AIP) of P33 billion for 2025 last Friday in a 'hybrid' special session, during which it also approved the 2025 annual budget.

The Cebu City Development Council (CCDC) officially transmitted the proposed P33.1-billion AIP to the City Council last October. Of the amount, P30.453 billion was for the General Fund Proper while P2.644 billion was for the Special Accounts Fund.

The approval last Dec. 27 came after all committee reports on the items under the AIP had already been transmitted and approved by the council.

The last three AIP items whose committee reports were approved during the same session were the Local Annual Cultural Development Plan (LACDP), the Local Youth Development Plan (LYDP), and that of the Local Council for the Protection of Children.

In particular, the LACDP serves as a “strategic guide for implementing programs in the fields of culture, history, and the arts to enrich and sustain Cebu City's cultural heritage.”

The plan highlights several key initiatives, particularly the commemoration of local historical events and figures; research on historical battles, events, and lesser-known figures; and the conduct of a Cultural Awareness Week with related lectures.

Aside from these, the plan also outlines other programs, such as enhancing the capacity of the Cultural and Historical Affairs Office (CHAO) by hiring researchers for cultural mapping and barangay cultural profiling; improving the Cebu City Museum through the acquisition of culturally-significant artifacts and artworks; and creating a Cebu City Heritage Watch composed of heritage advocates.

Furthermore, the plan also indicated the holding of various activities, like the celebration of Capital Cebu City Arts Week two weeks prior to Cebu City Charter Day; the conduct of "Art Tambay" and "Arts Day in the Highlands," which targets the participation of local artists in the mountain barangays; and strengthening the “Cebu City Performing Group” with regular concerts, recitals, workshops, and exhibitions that will showcase Cebuano artists' works at the Cebu City Museum.

In the area of heritage preservation efforts, the cultural development plan aims to restore and declare Cebu City's heritage structures, sites, and landmarks and involve barangay officials and stakeholders through seminars and workshops.

To further implement these plans, the city also hopes to acquire the equipment for the restoration and preservation of historical objects and artifacts and to strengthen the knowledge of heritage patrollers through conservation training and workshops.

“The Cultural Development Plan of Cebu City for 2025 is a comprehensive and forward-looking document that underscores the significance of culture, history, and the arts in the city's development,” read the committee report on the plan.

In the same hybrid session, the council also approved LYDP after the report by the Committee on Youth and Sports Development.

The committee, though, noted that the Local Youth Development Officer submitted an “outdated version” that did not reflect the amendments finalized in February 2024.

“These amendments were collaboratively developed by all SK chairpersons within the City of Cebu to align the LYDP with national and international priorities, particularly the Philippine Youth Development Plan (PYDP) 2023-2028 Strategic Framework and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” read the committee report.

City Council ex-officio member Rhea Jakosalem also noted the absence of proper and timely coordination between the Local Youth Development Officer and the Office of the SK Federation President.

In light of this, the council returned the submitted LYDP and directed the Local Youth Development Officer to submit the revised and updated LYDP. (CEBU NEWS)