The Cebu Provincial Board (PB) has taken a decisive step in finalizing the province's 2026 budget, approving it on second reading but not without creating significant political waves. The legislators introduced a major amendment, redirecting P14 million originally earmarked for Governor Pamela Baricuatro's Cebu People's Action Center (CPAC) to the Office of the Governor instead. This move has sparked a public debate over legislative independence and the proper legal channels for funding government programs.
A Defensive Stance on Legislative Autonomy
During the final regular session for 2025 on Monday, December 22, Vice Governor Glenn Anthony Soco, the presiding officer, opened the deliberations with a strong affirmation of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan's autonomy. He asserted that the committee on appropriations performed its duty with diligence and objectivity, strictly following the law without external influence. While Soco did not name CPAC directly, his remarks were widely seen as a response to the governor's recent criticisms of the board's handling of the program's budget. The vice governor declined to comment further to reporters after the session.
The Legal Hurdle: A Program, Not an Office
The core of the dispute lies in a technical but crucial legal distinction. According to Ex-officio PB Member and appropriations committee chairman Celestino Martinez, the amendments were necessary for statutory compliance. The committee found that CPAC is currently classified as a program, not a formal office, as it was not established through a legislative ordinance. It operates under the Provincial Information Office. Martinez clarified that the action was not a "defunding" because, legally, a non-office entity cannot have a dedicated budget line in the first place. "We had to make certain amendments to the proposals because we felt the funds could be used for better purposes," Martinez explained.
Governor's Rebuke and Assurances on Services
Governor Baricuatro has been vocal in her disapproval, defending CPAC as a vital, volunteer-driven initiative designed to deliver services to vulnerable sectors. In a pointed statement, she warned the PB that their actions would be judged by the public and that hindering the program's outreach would require them to answer to constituents. Despite the political friction, Assistant Provincial Administrator Alwin Empaces indicated that essential services linked to CPAC, such as social welfare and disaster response, would continue through existing provincial departments, potentially cushioning the operational impact of the budget shift.
What Comes Next for Cebu's Budget and CPAC
The amended budget ordinance will now proceed to the budget office before returning to the Provincial Board for its third and final reading, tentatively set for January 5. Martinez assured that the January timeline would not disrupt Capitol operations, as the province can operate under the 2025 budget if needed. The central unresolved question is whether the governor's office will move to formalize CPAC through an ordinance to meet the PB's legal requirements. How this conflict is resolved will set a precedent for the 2026 fiscal year and may determine the fate of other executive-led initiatives facing similar legislative scrutiny.
