ILOILO City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) is sounding the alarm after its proposed 2026 budget was cut by nearly P19.5 million — reductions that Vice Mayor Lady Julie Grace “Love-Love” Baronda warns could cripple the council’s ability to carry out its legislative duties.
Budget records show that the SP’s proposed allocation for 2026 stands at P104,062,898, a drop from this year’s P123,539,399.04.
The most significant cut hit Personal Services, reduced from P90.08 million to P76.65 million. Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) also fell from P31.5 million to P27.05 million, while Capital Outlay — crucial for equipment upgrades and infrastructure improvements — was cut almost to the bone, from P1.95 million to P350,000.
Baronda did not hide her frustration, saying the cuts undermine the council’s capacity to function effectively.
“Ang personal services pa lang, makita mo na nga daw indi gusto nga maka-function sang husto ang konseho. Ang aton mga empleyado kag mga equipment kinahanglan man buligan. Kung indi ta sila masuportahan sang husto, indi gid naton mapalab-ot ang epektibo nga serbisyo sa pumuluyo,” she said.
She said the meager capital outlay allocation is especially alarming given ongoing equipment shortages and maintenance issues inside the session hall.
“Ang P350,000 para sa bug-os nga tuig indi gid ina magakigo. Damo pa kami sang kinahanglan. Kon wala ina, maapektuhan ang kalidad sang aton trabaho kag dokumentasyon,” Baronda stressed.
The vice mayor confirmed she did not sign the proposed 2026 annual budget, a move that allows her to participate fully in budget deliberations and lobby for the restoration of SP funds.
“Wala kami sang poder nga magdugang sang pondo sa amo lang nga bahin, pero pwede kami maka-lobby kag makapahayag sang amon concerns. Ang importante, mabatian man ang tingog sang konseho,” she said.
Baronda added that while the executive branch shapes overall spending priorities, the legislative body must be adequately funded to function as the city’s primary law-making institution.
“Ang konseho indi lang basta-basta opisina. Amo ‘ni ang law-making body sang siyudad. Kung kulang sa pondo, maapektuhan gid ang legislative process, research, kag monitoring sang mga ordinansa,” she pointed out.
Budget hearings under the Committee on Appropriations chaired by Councilor Rex Marcus Sarabia will open on November 17, with Baronda expressing hope that the deliberations will lead to the restoration of funds vital to the council’s operations in 2026./PN
