On its final leg in the Visayas, the ‘Usapang Budget Natin’ forum laid down its specific tickets for Cebu included in the P6.793-trillion National Budget for 2026 in an interactive forum aimed at promoting budget transparency and accountability yesterday, February 20, 2026.
The forum was led by the Office of the Executive Secretary, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and the Presidential Communications Office through the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
It served as an open platform for dialogue between government officials and the public to explain how the 2026 National Budget funds essential programs and services affecting Filipinos.
In line with the directive of Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the DBM outlined key priorities under the proposed 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), which include strengthening education, healthcare, livelihood generation, and infrastructure development.
Officials from various national government agencies presented their respective programs, responded to public inquiries, and listened to feedback and concerns from participants.
Present during the forum were local leaders, including Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival and Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro, as well as representatives from the private sector, business groups, and civil society organizations.
Cebu City marked the final leg of the Visayas-wide advocacy rollout, following similar presentations in South Cotabato and La Union.
During his presentation, Budget and Management Secretary Rolando Toledo emphasized that the national budget should not remain confined within government offices but must be made understandable and accessible to the public.
‘Ito ay paanyaya na unawain ang budget, kilatisin ang budget, at magtanong tungkol sa budget. Hindi lamang ito para sa gobyerno, ito ay budget para sa bayan at mamamayan,’ Toledo said.
He added that the 2026 National Budget, as directed by the President, should be viewed not merely as a collection of numbers but as an investment in the country’s most important resource, the Filipino people.
For 2026, education remains the top priority, with a P1.34-trillion budget allocation, the largest education budget in Philippine history. This amount is equivalent to 4.36 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, marking the first time the Philippines has met the UNESCO Education 2030 framework benchmark.
For Central Visayas, Department of Education Undersecretary Edson Byron Sy said the region will receive P51.45 billion, which will fund programs such as Basic Education Facilities, the School-Based Feeding Program, textbooks and instructional materials, digitalization and computerization, personnel and plantilla positions, curriculum development, and disaster preparedness.
For infrastructure, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has been allocated P530.9 billion for 2026. Of this budget, DPWH Undersecretary Ador Canlas said that 20.14 percent, or P96.17 billion, of the P496.93-billion capital outlay will go to the Visayas, with Central Visayas receiving 6.05 percent, or P28.90 billion, for roads, bridges, and other infrastructure projects.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) secured a P9.8-billion budget, which will fund its Exports and Investment Development Program (27.1 percent), MSME Development Program (26.5 percent), Industry Development Program (26 percent), and Consumer Protection, Consumer Education, and Advocacy Program (20.4 percent).
For the Visayas, DTI has a total allocation of P608.6 million, with Central Visayas receiving the largest share at P242.9 million, or 39.6 percent.
This is followed by Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) with P168.7 million, or 27.7 percent; Western Visayas (Region VI) with P163.2 million, or 26.7 percent; and the Negros Island Region with P33.8 million, or 5.9 percent.
Other priority allocations include P448.1 billion for the Department of Health, P297.1 billion for the Department of Agriculture, and P270.2 billion for the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
These were presented by DOH Undersecretary Albert Francis Domingo, DA Undersecretary Nora Oliveros, and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Marlo Iringan.
Under the DILG budget highlights, P1.19 trillion has been allocated for the National Tax Allotment (NTA) for local government units nationwide, covering 83 provinces, 149 cities, 1,491 municipalities, and 41,913 barangays. Meanwhile, P57.87 billion has been set aside for the Local Government Support Fund to finance LGU projects addressing community needs.
Toledo described the proposed 2026 national budget as ‘disciplined and responsible,’ noting that it has the lowest level of unprogrammed appropriations since 2019, with only three items included.
‘Very stringent talaga ang aming evaluation as to the release of unprogrammed appropriations,’ Toledo told reporters in an interview, adding that the DBM will publish all releases once unprogrammed appropriations are approved.
During his speech, Toledo said that the unprogrammed appropriations remain a ‘safety net,’ wherein this allocation remains ‘ready when needed, but never abused.’
‘This is the kind of fiscal discipline that fosters confidence among our people, builds up our markets, and secures our economic future,’ he said.
He assured that the DBM would strictly evaluate requirements before releasing any unprogrammed funds and that all releases would be publicly disclosed.