Mayor's Office urged to file 2026 budget proposal early

Anticipating a marathon hearing on the proposed 2026 Budget for the city government, the City Council had asked Mayor Nestor Archival Sr. to consider submitting his proposed annual allocation early, on or before October 1.

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Councilor David Tumulak, chair of the budget and finance committee, filed a resolution to this effect during the Council's regular session recently.

The measure emphasized that early budget approval is crucial to the operational readiness and timely disbursement of funds for priority programs especially in preparations for and activities associated with the Sinulog Festival 2026.

Tumulak's move stemmed from the mandate as provided for in Section 318 of Republic Act No. 7160 (known as the Local Government Code of 1991), which states that the local chief executive shall submit the executive budget to the legislature not later than October 16 of the current fiscal year.

Also supporting this measure is the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circulars Nos. 2021-109 and 2022-004, issued to guide LGUs on the timely submission and enactment of the annual budget before the end of the current fiscal year.