Budget office cuts Baronda’s 2027 proposals, cites legislative mandate

ILOILO CITY — The City Budget Office said the reduction in the proposed 2027 budget of the Office of Vice Mayor Lady Julie Grace “Love-Love” Baronda was mainly due to several programs that fall outside the mandate of the legislative branch and belong instead to the executive branch.

City Budget Officer Viminale Capulso said on Wednesday, Nov. 4, that the proposed programs were flagged during preparation of the city’s Annual Investment Program (AIP) because they were not directly related to the legislative functions of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP).

Capulso, a member of the Local Finance Committee (LFC), said the committee had already explained the limitations to Baronda’s staff, citing guidelines issued by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Under Section 316 of the Local Government Code of 1991, the LFC is composed of the local planning and development officer, the local budget officer, and the local treasurer.

Capulso said the city government had previously allowed councilors to receive allocations from the 20% Development Fund for their respective pet projects, but the practice was discontinued after the DBM raised concerns during its review of the city’s budget.

The same law requires local government units to set aside at least 20% of their annual internal revenue allotment, now known as the National Tax Allotment, for development projects.

She said the LFC, following the DBM’s guidance, removed project-specific allocations for SP members from subsequent budgets to keep legislative and executive functions distinct.

“Some of the programs she proposed were not related to the preparation of legislation or connected to legislative work. We had already informed her staff, who submitted the proposals, that some of the programs were questionable. They understood because we had already explained these matters to all councilors during the preparation of the 2026 budget,” she said.

Libreng Sakay, hotline flagged

Among Baronda’s proposed allocations was PHP 10.25 million for the Libreng Sakay, or free transportation, program for college students.

“I do not know what the basis is for her proposed Libreng Sakay program. Again, I emphasize that it has no legal basis and is not within the ambit of the legislative function for her to execute it. That is why we did not provide funding for it,” she said.

Capulso said the Libreng Sakay program appeared to cover not only the drafting of an ordinance but also the actual implementation of the transportation program, given the size of the proposed budget.

“If it were only for drafting an ordinance, it would not be that big. I think that amount is already intended for implementation, not just legislation,” she said.

In April, Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu said the city government could not afford a Libreng Sakay program for students, citing rising fuel costs and limited financial resources.

Baronda’s office also sought PHP 2.9 million for the study and establishment of a centralized three-digit hotline, as well as funding for a debate activity under its Empowering Youth Through Legislative Awareness Program.

Capulso said the proposed hotline was still covered by a pending ordinance, leaving the budget office without sufficient legal basis to fund its implementation.

Operating expenses slashed

Baronda’s proposed maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) were also cut from PHP 26.11 million to PHP 4.8 million, a reduction of about 82%.

MOOE covers recurring operational costs such as travel, training, supplies, and fuel.

Capulso said the adjustment was partly based on the office’s historical spending, particularly its actual travel expenses.

She said Baronda’s office had requested PHP 500,000 for travel, but records showed only PHP 46,000 had been spent as of June.

The budget office then recommended PHP 200,000, which Capulso said was reasonable given the office’s actual expenditures.

She also said that during the technical budget hearing, the budget office had initially discussed an allocation of PHP 250,000 with Baronda’s staff, but this was further reduced after all proposals were consolidated.

“After we consolidated all the proposals, we found that the deficit was quite substantial. The city’s proposed budget is PHP 4.8 billion, but the proposed budget combined for all offices is around PHP 5.2 billion. That is why we further reduced the allocation,” Capulso said.

Office budget still up

Budget documents obtained by Daily Guardian showed that the proposed 2027 budget for the Office of the Vice Mayor and the SP Secretariat stands at PHP 33.99 million, up about PHP 6.93 million, or 25.6%, from the 2026 current-year estimate of PHP 27.06 million.

Among the proposed MOOE allocations specifically identified for the vice mayor’s office are PHP 200,000 for travel; PHP 300,000 for training; PHP 300,000 for office supplies; PHP 450,000 for fuel, oil, and lubricants; and PHP 60,000 for office equipment.

The proposed MOOE also includes PHP 60,000 each for the repair and maintenance of machinery and equipment and of transportation equipment, PHP 400,000 for other maintenance and operating expenses, and PHP 100,000 for committee hearings and consultative meetings.

For capital outlay, the proposed allocation was reduced to PHP 99,950 from PHP 350,000 in 2026. The amount is mainly intended for technical and scientific equipment for the SP Secretariat.

This is the second straight year the vice mayor’s budget has been trimmed. Daily Guardian reported in November 2025 that the SP’s proposed 2026 budget was reduced to PHP 104.06 million from PHP 123.54 million in 2025, a cut of about PHP 19 million.

Baronda refused to sign that proposal and suggested that politics was behind the reduction.

She and Councilor Sheen Marie Mabilog are the only opposition members of the City Council, where most councilors belong to the administration’s party.