Governor Pamela Baricuatro has signed a significantly leaner P11.9-billion budget for the Province of Cebu for the year 2026, marking a decisive shift from what she termed the "bloated" appropriations of previous years. Despite an overall reduction of more than half compared to 2025, the new financial plan strategically increases funding for healthcare, disaster preparedness, and the legislative branch.
Strategic Increases Amid Major Cuts
The P11.9-billion budget for 2026 represents a 52.40 percent decrease from the P25-billion allocation of the previous year. Governor Baricuatro approved the appropriations ordinance on Thursday, January 8, 2026, following its passage on third and final reading by the Provincial Board (PB).
However, several critical areas were shielded from the cuts and instead received substantial boosts:
- The combined operating budget for the 16 Capitol-run hospitals increased by P394.2 million (14%), reaching P2.9 billion.
- The Provincial Health Office saw a P178.8-million (17.15%) rise, bringing its allocation to P1.2 billion.
- The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), which had zero funding in 2025, was allocated P17.4 million for 2026.
Legislative, ICT, and Jail Facilities Gain
The budget also reflects structural reforms and priority projects under the new administration. The legislative branch experienced notable funding growth, partly due to the separate itemization of appropriations that were previously under the governor's office.
The Office of the Vice Governor received a massive 309.41 percent increase, adding P333.2 million to reach a P440.9-million allocation for 2026. Similarly, the Provincial Board's budget grew by P81.8 million (41.29%) to P280.1 million.
Vice Governor Glenn Anthony Soco welcomed the enhanced allocation, stating it would empower board members to serve their districts more effectively.
In line with digitalization goals, the Provincial Information and Communications Technology Office (Picto) was granted an additional P15.2 million, a 74.74 percent hike. Furthermore, the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) received P21.8 million more, a 38.73 percent increase in its 2026 funding.
Aligning Budget with Actual Spending Capacity
The dramatic overall reduction was a conscious move to align the budget with the province's actual capacity to disburse funds. PB Member Celestino "Tining" Martinez III, chairman of the committee on budget and appropriations, authored the ordinance and explained the rationale.
He noted that provincial spending in recent years never exceeded P11 billion, even when approved budgets were over P20 billion from 2023 to 2025. "Ang nagasto ra gyud sa previous years wala man gyud musobra sa P11 billion. So if you're looking at around P11 billion for this year to spend, you're well within the range," Martinez said.
Data from Provincial Budget Officer Danilo Rodas showed that executive offices bore the brunt of the cuts, with a combined reduction of P13.4 billion (67.10%). The governor's office itself registered the largest single cut, shrinking from P19.1 billion in 2025 to P5.2 billion in 2026.
The province announced these budgetary details through its official Public Information Facebook page on Sunday, January 11, 2026.
