The Cebu Provincial Board (PB) has taken a significant step towards fiscal tightening, with its Committee on Budget and Appropriations recommending substantial reductions in the proposed 2026 budgets for two key communications offices.
Major Cuts for Provincial Information Office
During a session on Monday, December 22, 2025, the committee proposed slashing the budget of the Provincial Information Office (PIO) by P5 million. The recommendation would reduce the PIO's allocation from the proposed P9.911 million down to just P4.911 million.
The committee's report, released on December 10, highlighted two primary areas for reduction. First, the allocation for Overtime and Night Pay was deemed excessive and was cut by P3 million, a 49 percent decrease from P5.911 million to P2.911 million. The committee pointed out that the proposed overtime pay was nearly equal to the total salaries of the entire department, violating limits set by the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Budget and Management.
Secondly, the proposed budget for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment was halved, receiving a P2 million reduction from P4 million to P2 million. The committee justified this cut by noting the PIO's failure to provide specific details on the type and quantity of equipment it planned to purchase.
Sugbo News Faces Even Deeper Reduction
The budget axe fell even harder on Sugbo News, the provincial government's news arm. The committee recommended a staggering P5.3725 million decrease, lowering its proposed 2026 budget from P11.745 million to P6.3725 million.
The proposed cuts were across the board, including:
- 50 percent reductions in supplies, maintenance expenses, and office equipment.
- A steep 75 percent cut to its ICT equipment budget, from P2 million to just P500,000.
The committee's rationale was stark. It stated that the head of Sugbo News admitted the office's main function was to assist the governor in relaying her messages, while all other provincial news was handled by the PIO. The committee concluded that this function does not directly relate to the core goal of providing services to the general public, providing insufficient basis for a significant budget allocation.
Budget Approved on Second Reading
These recommendations were made as the 2026 provincial annual budget was approved on second reading during the same December 22 session. The committee left the door open for a supplemental budget request if the PIO can later present detailed plans for its ICT procurement.
This move signals a stricter scrutiny of provincial expenditures, emphasizing legal compliance and clear justification for public spending, particularly for offices involved in media and public information.
