Garcia eyes P20 billion budget next year

CEBU, Philippines — Newly-installed Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia is eyeing P18 to P20 billion annual budget for 2025 to fund his priority projects which include housing and health.

Garcia, who swore into office as full-fledged mayor on Wednesday following the dismissal from service of mayor Michael Rama, said he intends to submit his 2025 budget proposal to the City Council within the month.

According to him, they have already mapped out the items in the proposed budget which include housing and health as top priorities. Garcia said he will make sure to finish the construction of the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC).

He clarified that a portion of the CCMC’s construction has been included in the previous annual budget but the upper floors-- 8th, 9th, and 10th—needed additional budget to complete.

The mayor vowed to be transparent by showing the rest of the items in his budget proposal as soon as it is officially transmitted before the city council.

Garcia’s budget estimate is 80 percent lower than the proposed budget of his predecessor. To recall, Rama submitted a proposed budget amounting to P100 billion last year which the council slashed to P25 billion.

Meanwhile, the council has scheduled a series of budget hearings for the proposed P300 million Supplemental Budget (SB) 3 which consists of the first tranche of the salary increase and the P25,000 bonus of the city hall employees. 

The hearings are set on October 22, 24, and 25 as agreed during the regular session last week. Members of the Local Finance Committee were invited to appear.

City Administrator Kristine Batucan, officers of the City Budget Office, City Accounting Office, Human Resources Development Office, Association of Barangay Councils, and Barangay Affairs Office were also invited to attend the hearings. (CEBU NEWS)