THE Misamis Oriental Sangguniang Panlalawigan has approved a P3.3 billion budget for this year, the first regressed budget in the province’s history of almost a hundred years.
During an almost four-hour deliberation January 12, the local legislators decided to slash Gov. Juliette Uy’s proposed P4.4 billion budget by a whooping P1.1 billion.
The governor’s proposal itself was already a decrease from the P5.8 billion budget in 2025 which saw the year being dominated by then Gov. Peter Unabia in the first six months and Uy inheriting and implementing the budget in the succeeding months until December.
Neophyte board member Rommel Maslog – the committee on appropriations chair – defended the reduction, saying that the provincial government needs to operate within its foreseen collections.
“Capitol was only able to collect P3.3 billion last year. That’s based on the governor’s report itself which our honorable governor highlighted during the opening of the Kuyamis festival last week,” Maslog said.
He said he and his colleagues could not approve on what he claimed as a “bloated” budget because it would be difficult in the long run for the provincial government how to fund projects and programs.
Maslog insisted that services for the constituents in Misamis Oriental will continue despite the reduced budget as the local government unit operates only according to its collections.
The budget will now be forwarded before Uy who could either approve or veto any of its provisions.
As of press time, there was no reaction yet from the provincial government on the matter.
