Capitol clears P63M in old dues

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu provincial government has settled at least P63 million in financial obligations incurred under previous administrations dating back to 2018.

The unpaid obligations, which accumulated through 2025, included expenses for catering, scholarships, infrastructure projects and professional fees.

Governor Pamela Baricuatro said the amount represented only claims supported by sufficient documentation, while other obligations remain subject to verification and the completion of requirements before they can be paid.

In a radio interview with lawyer Ruphil Bañoc, Baricuatro described the unpaid obligations as a “myriad of commitments” accumulated over the years.

“Daghan kaayo na… even catering nu,” said Baricuatro.

The governor added that the amount could still increase because some obligations lack proper supporting documents.

Baricuatro said some of the unpaid bills involved services already delivered to the provincial government, including catering, talent fees and other contracted services.

“These are MSMEs (small and medium enterprises). It's an issue of trust,” she said.

The governor said some business owners had been affected by the prolonged nonpayment, with some reportedly forced to stop operating.

“Daghan kaayong luoy… naay uban nga naundang jud ang ilang negosyo,” Baricuatro said.

Assistant Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces, in a separate interview with The Freeman, said the obligations refer to payments still owed by the provincial government to suppliers and other service providers.

“Obligations man na, meaning mga payment that needs to be given to the supplier,” Empaces said.

Empaces said the P63 million also covered unpaid scholarship-related obligations, catering services, infrastructure programs and professional fees.

Among the professional fees were payments for speakers, coaches and lecturers who had already rendered their services but had yet to be paid, he said.

“Naa say mga professional fees sa mga speakers, coaches, lecturers,” Empaces said.

He emphasized that these services had already been rendered to the provincial government.

“Service rendered najud na sila,” he said.

Some of the outstanding obligations also involved universities, further widening the range of entities covered by the provincial government's unpaid commitments.

While the provincial government has already settled P63 million in obligations, Baricuatro stressed that payments could only be made for claims supported by the necessary documents.

“Kay naa mga projects nga gi execute pero wala niagi og bidding. Unsaon nato pagbayad kung walay proper documents,” Baricuatro said.

She said paying unsupported claims could expose the provincial government to audit issues with the Commission on Audit (COA).

“It could be more. Ang ato lang nabayran ana kay kato lang mga documents ba nga maka support kay otherwise kami sad ang madaot sa COA kung walay supporting documents,” she said.

Empaces likewise said the exact total of the remaining obligations could not yet be determined because claims still have to be evaluated based on the completeness of their documents.

He said payments for obligations incurred under previous administrations must undergo the appropriate legal and documentary processes before they can be released.

“Ang process man gud, is katong mga payments from the past, e-agi pa jud na og legal,” he said.

For infrastructure-related claims, Empaces said the provincial government must verify whether projects underwent the required bidding process before determining whether payment can be made.

He added that the obligations are already reflected in the provincial government's bookkeeping records.

“Naa na sa bookkeeping, mao na ang mga obligations,” he said.

As of July 31, the P63 million represented the amount already settled by the province, while the processing of other obligations remains ongoing, according to Empaces.

Baricuatro acknowledged that the obligations were incurred before she assumed office but maintained that the provincial government still has a responsibility to address them.

She also recalled an unpaid obligation connected to a campaign rally in Dumanjug, saying it had remained unsettled even after the event.

“Naay rally sauna, didto sa Dumanjug katong during the campaign, wala pa to nabayri. So we have to settle that. So we're still working with the mayor on how to settle that. Imagine that was during the campaign rally,” she said.

During her State of the Province Address (SOPA) on August 31, Baricuatro described the settlement of the ?63 million in unpaid obligations as part of her administration's “housekeeping” agenda.

The governor stressed that while the obligations were not incurred by her administration, they remained commitments of the provincial government to businesses and service providers that had already fulfilled their obligations. — (FREEMAN)