Ouano pushes P4.5B Mandaue budget for 2026

Mandaue Mayor Jonkie Ouano has proposed a P4.5-billion annual budget for 2026, maintaining the same amount as this year to keep what he described as a “more realistic” financial plan for the city.

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Ouano said last Monday that the city expects to collect around P3.8 billion to P3.9 billion in actual revenues, leaving a deficit of about P600 million.

“Sa tinud-anay man gud atoang budget for this year is P4.5 billion, same lang gihapon next year. Atoang makuha ra g’yud nga actual nga amount is around mga P3.8 to P3.9 ra g’yud so there is a deficit of around P600 million,” he said.

He said the 2026 proposal was deliberately kept at the same level to align programs and projects with what the city can realistically afford to implement.

He said this approach avoids “bloated” spending and reflects a more practical allocation of resources.

“So atoang gipabilin sa in-ana nga kantidad para ma-align ta sa more realistic programs and projects nga atoang ma-implement,” he added.

Ouano noted that Mandaue City incurred a P600-million deficit in 2024 and is already facing a P300-million shortfall this year, based on reports from the City Treasurer's Office.

The ordinance was approved on first reading yesterday and will undergo further committee deliberations before being presented for second and third reading.

Meanwhile, Councilor Atty. Joel Seno, who authored the ordinance, said the city’s financial outlook this year remains almost the same as the previous year, as the local government continues to manage its resources cautiously.