The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) of Bacolod City has given its full backing to a significantly larger spending plan for the coming year. Councilors unanimously passed the proposed P4.75 billion annual budget for 2026 on second, third, and final reading during their regular session on Thursday afternoon, December 4, 2025.
Budget Highlights and Key Allocations
Councilor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, who heads the Committee on Appropriation and Finance, confirmed the new budget reflects a P300 million increase over the current year's P4.4 billion allocation. Sayson attributed this growth primarily to a strategic push for stronger revenue generation within the city.
He detailed that substantial portions of the 2026 funds have been earmarked for crucial offices and programs. Major beneficiaries include:
- The City Mayor's Office
- Social services programs
- Public health initiatives
- The Bacolod Comprehensive Health Program (BacCHP)
- The Bayad Agad program
Sayson noted that the budget formulation involved a series of hearings where various department heads presented and defended their respective financial proposals for the upcoming year.
Mayor's Priorities and Revenue Sources
The P4.75 billion budget was formally requested by Mayor Greg Gasataya. He outlined that priority projects funded by the increase will support more city scholars, the full implementation of the BacCHP, and the city's mandatory operational expenses.
Mayor Gasataya emphasized that the budget hike is relatively modest. He explained that the calculation was based almost entirely on the expected National Tax Allotment (NTA), formerly known as the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), which the city receives from the national government.
"There is an annual increase (NTA) and as to the local sources, it's still the same since we did not increase our taxes," Gasataya stated. He provided a specific figure, revealing that Bacolod's NTA share for this year reached P2,244,573,982.
Unanimous Approval and Forward Look
The swift and unanimous approval on all required readings signals a consensus within the City Council regarding the 2026 financial plan. The process underscores a collaborative effort between the executive and legislative branches of the local government.
The approved budget now sets the stage for Bacolod's projects and services for the 2026 fiscal year, with a clear emphasis on enhancing healthcare, social support, and the city's own income-generating capabilities without imposing new tax burdens on residents.
