Cebu City Vice Mayor Cuts Over P500 Million from Office Budget to Prioritize Essential Programs

Cebu City Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña has announced a major budget reduction exceeding P500 million from the combined allocations of his office and the City Council for the year 2026. The cuts aim to divert funds towards critical programs directly benefiting residents, including healthcare, education scholarships, and assistance for senior citizens.

Osmeña revealed the proposed adjustments in a social media post dated September 12, 2025, where he shared comparative budget visuals illustrating the shift from the 2025 to the 2026 allocations for the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), its Secretariat, and the Office of the Vice Mayor (OVM).

The current combined budget of approximately P925 million is set to be halved to around P415 million next year, reflecting a P512 million reduction. "As head of the Legislative, I am proud to announce that we will be saving over half a billion pesos in budget cuts compared to previous years," Osmeña stated.

The Vice Mayor emphasized that these savings will be redirected to essential community services, including medicines, scholarships for city students, and aid for senior citizens—programs he considers vital to improving the livelihood of Cebuanos. "These items directly impact the lives of Cebuanos and are more important than projects I consider unnecessary," he noted.

Among the projects eliminated by the budget downsizing is the proposed Vice Mayor’s Portrait Gallery, which Osmeña described as a "useless vanity project" associated with an "overpriced BYD-loving official" who placed self-promotional displays throughout City Hall.

Key cuts include P168 million from the Legislative Support Fund Program, P100 million from the Comprehensive Capital Development Program, and P50 million originally allocated for an Archives Building. Further reductions encompass P80 million for legislative building renovations, P20 million for the Vice Mayor’s Gallery, and P77 million from the OVM’s Other Maintenance and Operating Expenses, previously used for job orders, meals, and venue rentals.

The budget cuts break down as follows: the SP Legislative budget will decline 53 percent from P606 million to P283 million; the SP Secretariat will see a 73 percent decrease from P179 million to P48 million; and the OVM’s budget will drop by 42 percent, from P140 million to P82 million.

Despite the substantial reductions, Osmeña confirmed that certain initiatives would continue, including a P30 million allocation for installing solar panels on the Legislative Building—a priority project of Mayor Nestor Archival. The OVM will also maintain support for new programs such as the "Mayor of the Night" initiative, the establishment of a Fund Finding Commission, and a 24/7 Help Desk aimed at enhancing public service access.

During a council session on September 10, Osmeña explained that the budget figure reflects deliberate cost-saving measures, including leaving several plantilla positions unfilled within his office. "I have prepared the budget for next year with P500 million less than this year," he disclosed, emphasizing a personal commitment to fiscal responsibility.

He further highlighted the need to ensure equitable distribution of resources, acknowledging that while not everyone can receive assistance, it is essential that those excluded are not unfairly penalized. "Whatever we have, we just divide it. Okay?" Osmeña remarked.

The announcement coincided with ongoing discussions among council members regarding financial aid for senior citizens. Councilor Sisinio Andales urged the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs (Osca) to review its beneficiary list amid inconsistencies in reported numbers across the quarters. He expressed concern that unqualified individuals may be receiving benefits while deserving seniors remain excluded, calling for thorough verification to uphold fairness.

Osmeña’s budget restructuring underscores a strategic shift toward prioritizing programs with direct community impact amid fiscal constraints affecting Cebu City governance for 2026.