City Council to scrutinize: Garcia submits P33 billion AIP

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Development Council (CCDC) has officially transmitted to the City Council the P33.1 billion Annual Investment Plan (AIP) for 2025, with the legislative body referring it to its various committees during its regular session yesterday.

Of the amount, P30.453 billion is for the “General Fund Proper” and P2.643 billion is for the “Special Accounts”.

The AIP, which serves as basis for the programs, projects, and activities that the city would spend on next year, includes the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)–endorsed Gender and Development Plan and Budget; Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan; Local Climate Change Action Plan; Peace and Order Plan; and the Local Nutrition Action Plan.

It also includes the City’s Annual Cultural Development Plan; Indicative Annual Procurement Plan; Local Youth Development Plan; List of PPAs for the Local Council for the Protection of Children;

List of Projects, Programs, and Activities (PPAs) for the senior citizens and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs); List of PPAs to combat Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS); List of PPAs to address the illegal drugs problem; and capacity development for employees.

Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, Cebu Planning and Development Officer Jose Michael Espina, Acting Budget Officer Roseny Reyes, signed the AIP that the CCDC transmitted to the City Council.

Among others, the “Gender and Development Plan and Budget” was referred to the Committee on Gender and Family Affairs, while the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan was referred to the Committee on Disaster Management. The Local Climate Change Action Plan, on the other hand, was referred to the Committee on Environment, while the Peace and Order Plan was referred to the Peace and Order committee; and the Local Nutrition Action Plan, to the Committee on Health;

Under the Gender and Development Plan, the establishment of Violence Against Women and Their Children (VAW) desk in each of the city’s 80 barangays was identified for improvement in functionality as well as for each to include taking a closer look at cases of human trafficking.

Further, the AIP for PPAs for senior citizens and PWDs also included a huge chunk tehir monthly financial assistance, which is more than P1 billion.

Among the notable chunks in the Local Council for the Protection of Children is the holding of the Children’s camp, whose objective is to “provide an opportunity to children to enjoy nature and one's talent” as well as provide an opportunity to expose on leadership skills training.

As to the plan to continuously combat illegal drugs, the AIP also includes the hiring of projects-based personnel and the honorarium of “Community Rehabilitation Network of Recovery Coaches, Facilitators Area and Data Consolidation Case Managers, and other Addiction Licensed Professionals”.

To combat AIDs, the AIP also included P30 million for a national AIDS and STI Prevention Program.

In the Climate Change Action Plan, the AIP included P150 million for the procurement of electric vehicles, as well as 500 million for the purchase of lots intended for socialized housing units for those who would be displaced because of demolitions, fire, and government-initiated PPAs.

Under also the Peace and Order Plan, among the largest chunks is the P40 million intended for the “confidential or intelligence fund” and P18 million for acquisition of a lot for the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 office building. — /RHM (FREEMAN)