SPENDING HIKE: City Hall seeks more confidential, discretionary funds for 2026

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Iloilo City government is proposing a higher allocation of PHP 30 million in confidential funds and PHP 22.05 million in discretionary funds under its 2026 proposed budget.

The proposed confidential fund for the Office of the City Mayor reflects a PHP 2 million increase from the PHP 28 million allocated in 2025.

In 2024, the city’s confidential fund stood at PHP 15 million.

Confidential funds are lump-sum amounts authorized through appropriation ordinances for confidential expenses related to peace and order and public safety.

These funds are typically used to support anti-crime initiatives, intelligence gathering, monitoring of security threats, and other discreet activities aimed at ensuring community safety.

The city government is also seeking to raise its discretionary fund from PHP 13.98 million in 2025 to PHP 22.05 million in 2026—an increase of nearly 58 percent.

Discretionary funds are intended for the local chief executive’s use in addressing emergency, unforeseen, or urgent community needs not anticipated during the annual budget process.

This allows local officials flexibility in responding quickly to incidental expenses or urgent issues during the fiscal year.

The Office of the City Mayor is likewise proposing a PHP 510,000 increase in travel expenses for local trips, from PHP 1.3 million to PHP 1.81 million.

Meanwhile, the budget for foreign travel remains unchanged at PHP 1 million.