P101M pushed for 2026 PTO budget

FROM ONLY P3M THIS YEAR

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Several members of the Cebu Provincial Board have raised concerns over the sharp increase in the proposed 2026 budget for the Provincial Tourism Office (PTO), which ballooned from P3 million this year to P101 million under the new budget proposal.

Board Member Celestino "Tining" Martinez III confirmed in an interview that the board has begun reviewing allocations across offices.

Among those reviewed was the proposed tourism budget which immediately stood out due to its size.

Of the proposed P101 million, P73.5 million is earmarked for travel expenses related to fairs and caravans, while P28 million is allotted for the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo program.

“One of the biggest. Ang usa ana is because of the travels nga gi-charge as foreign and local travels,” Martinez said.

Martinez, chairman of the Committee on Budget, Appropriation and Finance, also added that several board members questioned the timing of such large travel allocations given the current state of the province’s disaster-hit areas.

“I don't think it's time to travel now. It wouldn’t be advisable to attend so many fairs and events nga mura’g daghan pa’g damage ang area. So unsa may ikabaligya nimo sa gawas? We prefer to physically repair first what we can promote abroad,” he said.