Cebu to get P26B in projects

CEBU, Philippines — A total of 796 proposed infrastructure projects worth ?26.53 billion are lined up for Cebu Province under the Fiscal Year 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Central Visayas (DPWH-7).

The proposed projects were presented during the September 8 session of the 17th Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), which lasted nearly four hours.

The figure covers all legislative districts across the province, including Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City.

District engineers from DPWH-7 attended the session to address flood-control initiatives and give updates on other infrastructure programs.

Of the ?26.53-billion proposal, the bulk falls under the Convergence and Special Support Program, which accounts for 554 projects worth ?11.28 billion.

The Locally Funded Projects category lists 16 projects worth ?432 million. Notably, Districts 1 and 6, as well as Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, and the 7th District, had no allocations under this category.

Meanwhile, National Road Projects (001) comprise 172 items with a total allocation of ?9.85 billion.

The 3rd District secured the largest share under 001, with 33 projects worth ?1.6 billion.

In contrast, the 6th District only had two projects worth ?120 million, making it the smallest allocation in the same category.

For Flood Control and Calamity-Related Projects (002), DPWH listed 54 proposals worth ?4.95 billion.

The 7th District received the biggest allocation under 002, with 16 projects totaling ?1.96 billion.

Districts 2, 6, and Mandaue City, however, recorded no appropriations for flood control projects.

SP Member Celestino “Tining” Martinez III emphasized the importance of aligning the province’s annual budget deliberations with DPWH’s project pipeline to avoid duplication.

“Later this month we will also be discussing our annual budget. And to save time and perhaps avoid overlapping projects, we would like to listen to our friends from DPWH and get an idea of what is in store for 2026,” Martinez said.

SP Member Stanley Caminero also requested DPWH-7 to resubmit its finalized NEP proposal to the Committee on Infrastructure for further review.

DPWH-7 representative Engr. Francis Antonio Flores explained that the list of projects was prepared per legislative district through consultations with district engineers.

“These 796 project proposals are still subject to sweeping and correction as ordered by our new honorable Secretary Vince Dizon,” Flores clarified.

He added that DPWH must meet this week’s deadline for submission to the Department of Budget and Management, ahead of the bicameral conference committee’s approval process.

Flores assured provincial lawmakers that a final copy will be furnished, complete with the necessary errata. — (FREEMAN)