"Php 10B for Cebu City's 2021 annual budget" - Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella

Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said that he is considering only Php 10 billion for the 2021 Cebu City annual budget after the Php 22.3 billion Annual Investment Plan (AIP) was endorsed by the Cebu City Development Council (CCDC).

Labella said that even if the AIP becomes the basis for the annual budget, the source of funds would determine how much the city can actually spend since the tax collection is not as high as they were before the pandemic.

Earlier today, Cebu City Councillor Alvin Dizon requested the city government's executive department headed by Mayor Labella to allocate funds for pandemic response.

Councillor Dizon also cited more budget in health, education and pandemic recovery.

With this, the Mayor promised to prioritize on health especially for the Cebu City Medical Center for the purchasing medicines and vaccines (when available) and better apparatus. In addition to this, the Mayor also said that infrastructures, aid for economic recovery, and education would be prioritized.

Words by Jean Claire Peruda

Photo from CDN Digital