Proposed SP office budget for 2026 cut by PHP19 million

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Office of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) is facing a PHP 19-million reduction in its proposed 2026 budget, prompting Iloilo City Vice Mayor Lady Julie Grace “Love-Love” Baronda to lament that the city’s legislative branch appears to be “not a priority” of the executive.

The proposed SP budget for 2026 amounts to PHP 104,062,898, down from PHP 123,539,399.04 allocated in 2025.

The cut affects all three major expenditure items: personal services, maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE), and capital outlay.

Funding for personal services dropped from PHP 90 million to PHP 76.65 million, while MOOE decreased from PHP 31.5 million to PHP 27 million.

Personal services cover salaries, wages, and other compensation for government employees.

MOOE, meanwhile, includes daily operational costs such as travel, supplies, utilities, and other recurring expenses needed for government functions.

The capital outlay suffered the steepest drop, from PHP 1.95 million in 2025 to just PHP 350,000 for 2026.

Details show that the vice mayor’s office equipment budget was reduced from PHP 650,000 to PHP 100,000, ICT equipment from PHP 752,500 to PHP 150,000, while allocations for communication, technical, scientific equipment, and furniture and fixtures were all set at PHP 100,000 each.

Baronda, who heads the SP office, did not sign the proposed 2026 budget submitted by the Office of the Mayor to the City Council.

She said signing it would limit the council’s ability to request additional funds during budget deliberations.

The vice mayor expressed concern that the council’s budget, once submitted, could only be retained or further reduced.

“It only means that we are not the priority of the mayor. Hopefully, she will also consider that we are equal branches; she’s from the executive and we are in the legislative,” Baronda told Daily Guardian on Wednesday, November 12.

She also suggested possible political motives behind the budget cut.

“Hopefully, this is not politics, but then again, clearly there is politics. Why do I say that? In the personal services, the amount has already decreased and that means she does not want us to perform. I hope she considers that,” Baronda said.

She claimed that majority bloc councilors did not react to the cut since they could receive job orders directly from the executive branch, bypassing the legislative office’s funds.

Baronda and Councilor Sheen Marie Mabilog are the only members of the opposition in the City Council, with 13 of the 14 councilors belonging to the administration’s party.

The vice mayor warned that the steep cut in capital outlay would affect the SP’s operations, especially as the council recently transferred to a new building still lacking essential equipment.

Since the 12th City Council began holding sessions in the new facility, proceedings have been disrupted by malfunctioning microphones and a leaking air-conditioning unit—problems that were again evident during Wednesday’s session.

“Our sessions should not be disrupted due to technical issues, especially with the microphones. When the time comes that questions arise regarding the interpretation of the laws we pass, we always refer back to the stenographic notes or transcript of records,” Baronda said.

“It is crucial if the audio of our session is defective,” she added.

She noted that repairs have been delayed because the contractor has yet to formally turn over the new building to the city government.

Baronda said she has asked the SP Secretariat to request the contractor to replace the defective microphones and is consulting with staff to secure additional technical equipment.