Cebu Province prioritizes infrastructure in 2021 budget

The Cebu provincial government has prioritized infrastructure development in its recently approved 2021 budget as it moves to resuscitate Cebu’s economy amid the pandemic.

The Cebu Provincial Board unanimously passed on third and final reading the province’s P15-billion budget for 2021 on Monday, December 7. 

In his budget message, Board Member Glenn Soco, the chairman of the provincial board’s committee on budget and appropriations, noted the P8.2- billion development fund as the “major feature” of the 2021 budget, comprising 55% of the total budget.

The development fund includes construction of roads, bridges, government buildings, drainage systems, water supply programs, the development of community sites, and the development of airports and seaports in the province.

“It is the right investment in the right direction which would speed up our economic recovery. Indeed, the province aims to return to its promised path and direction in bringing forth physical, social and economic developments to its citizens,” Soco said in his message. 

As per the specific sectoral objectives, the budget consists of P2.9 billion for general services, P6.2 billion for social services, and P5.9 billion for economic services. 

In her letter to the board, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia noted that the Internal Revenue Allotment consisted only 27% of the province’s budget, saying this “reaffirmed the Province of Cebu’s autonomy” from the IRA allotment in “this era of an ever increasing IRA-dependency on the part of local government units”.

The province’s 2021 budget topped its P12 billion 2020 budget which was pegged then as the biggest approved budget the province has seen.  – Rappler.com