The Cebu Provincial Government is charting a new course for a significant P150-million budget after abandoning plans to relocate the Provincial Capitol to Balamban. The original transfer project was cancelled due to unresolved issues surrounding land ownership.
From Capitol Transfer to Innovation Hub
According to Assistant Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces, the identified lot for the proposed new Capitol in Balamban is not owned by the province and remains unpaid. The construction of a new Capitol building in the town is definitively off the table. Instead, officials are now exploring the creation of an innovation hub or government center within the same locality.
The P150-million fund, an allocation from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), was originally intended for the Capitol transfer. "It’s just that there is already funding for 2025 worth P150 million for a Capitol building, so that’s what we are now asking clarification on from the DPWH," Empaces explained. The agency has not yet responded to their inquiries.
Deadline Pressures and Fund Realignment
The province is now in a race against time to find an alternative use for the money. The DPWH has set a deadline within the first quarter of 2026 for the province to identify a site and develop a plan. "Right now, what we are looking at is how to use those funds because it would be a waste. We are asking if it can be realigned for other purposes," Empaces stated.
The leading concept is an innovation hub. "We are testing the idea of an innovation hub — it’s like a government center, but it can be used for mixed-use purposes," he added, suggesting a flexible facility that could serve multiple community and governmental functions.
Renovation Focus for Cebu City Capitol
Concurrently, Governor Pamela Baricuatro has directed provincial officials to prioritize the renovation and full utilization of the existing Capitol complex in Cebu City. Empaces confirmed that renovations are proceeding gradually and in phases, subject to the necessary approvals from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
Key plans include fully utilizing the Legislative Building for the vice governor and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board). Empaces noted that some national government agencies currently housed in the Legislative Building are already coordinating with the Provincial Government for a potential transfer to new office locations within Metro Cebu.
This two-pronged approach allows Cebu to modernize its historic seat of power in the city while potentially planting a seed for future growth and development in Balamban with the proposed hub, ensuring the substantial DPWH allocation is put to productive use.
