Budget reduction not political but procedural

SP MEMBER EXPLAINS

- 

To prove his point that it's not about politics, Cebu Board Member Celestino “Tining” Martinez III clarified that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s (SP) recommendation to reduce the proposed 2026 budget for the Cebu People’s Action Center (CPAC) was compelled by legal and institutional requirements.

Martinez issued the clarification in response to public statements by Governor Pamela Baricuatro opposing the funding reduction, saying the controversy stemmed from legal constraints under the Local Government Code rather than resistance to CPAC’s service-oriented mandate.

In a Facebook post, Martinez said he believes the issue was already settled following a meeting last Tuesday with provincial administrator Ace Durano and assistant provincial administrator Aldwin Empaces, where the matter was thoroughly discussed and an agreed course of action was reached.

Martinez emphasized that the Committee on Budget and Appropriations, that he chairs, has a limited mandate, confined to evaluating proposals for items already included in a duly-approved budget such as the 2025 budget --that are proposed for reappropriation in the succeeding fiscal year.

"The Committee on Budget and Appropriations is not mandated to determine whether a program or activity is acceptable, practical, or viable," reads a portion on Martinez’ post