The city government’s proposed 2026 budget of more than ₱6 billion is expected to be submitted to the plenary of the Sangguniang Panlungsod next week.
Councilor Modesto “Jonjie” Rodriguez II, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s Committee on Appropriations, said almost all city departments have gone through budget hearings, with only two offices left before they report the more than ₱6 billion spending plan for next year.
Rodriguez said the proposed 2026 budget increased slightly due to the salary adjustment for job order employees at City Hall.
“Halos 90% na ng mga department ay natalakay na namin, mayroon na lamang mga 2 department na kinakailangan talakayin and after that ay ready for reporting na, hopefully, the next regular session. Nasa mahigit ₱6 billion dahil mayroon lang increase na 14% compared sa 2025 budget,” Rodriguez said.
“Ang medyo lumaki doon sa bawat department, lumaki ‘yung mga pondo nila dahil nagkaroon ng adjustment sa salary ng mga job order employees. So, kung mayroon tayo makikita na increase sa bawat department, can be attributed doon sa pag-increase ng sweldo ng mga empleyado,” he added.
The remaining offices to be discussed are the City Public Market and the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) Management, which the Sangguniang Panlungsod plans to recall due to an “Open Letter” that surfaced and needs to be addressed.
He explained that the City Public Market’s budget was not discussed earlier because its program manager was in Manila on official business for a seminar during the scheduled hearing.
The budget of the Puerto Princesa Underground River Management was also temporarily withdrawn from approval after a visitor posted his observations online. Rodriguez pointed out that this requires their attention.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod viewed the issue raised in the letter as a simple concern that should have been addressed immediately by the office without the need for such a public complaint.
“Yung isang opisina naman, ‘yung PPUR, wini-draw muna namin ‘yung aming approval ng kanilang budget dahil may lumabas doong open letter na kung saan kinakailangang i-call ‘yung attention nila,” he said.
“Ang punto dito ng Sangguniang Panlungsod, hindi na kinakailangang may lumabas pang ganyang open letter para ma-address ‘yung ganyang napaka-simpleng problema. Dapat ‘yung ganun ay naaaksyunan agad ang ganun kasimpleng problema,” he added.
For 2026, the departments with the largest allocations include the City Engineering Office (CEO), City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), and the City Health Office (CHO).
“Andyan siyempre ‘yung Engineering dahil siyempre sa kanila naka-lodge ‘yung 20% development fund, lahat ng infra projects. Nandyan din ‘yung sa City Health dahil i-operational na ‘yung ating Medical Complex at ‘yung CSWD. So, ‘yun ‘yung top 3 na department na may pinakamalaking budget,” Rodriguez said.
