Summary
Highlights
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia clarifies that the 26 billion pesos for flood control projects in Cebu over the last three years were not provincial funds but part of the national budget allocated to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Many of these projects were insertions into the budget and distributed across Cebu's eight congressional districts, with no direct involvement or implementation by the provincial government.
Governor Garcia emphasizes the importance of gaining 'San Bonian approval' before implementing any program. She cites Republic Act 7160, the Local Government Code, specifically Sections 2, 16, 27, and 28, which mandate local government autonomy and require national government projects to consult with and include local governments in the planning stage. These sections also state that government authorities cannot implement projects without prior approval from the local Sanangguniang.
The provincial board passed an ordinance reiterating these sections of the Local Government Code, insisting that all programs and projects must secure approval from the Provincial Board. Governor Garcia notes that during the provincial development council meetings, national government agencies are invited to present their proposed projects for approval, but flood control projects are often insertions into the national budget without prior consultation with the local government.
Despite the legal requirement for consultation, the local government unit was not consulted regarding the types of projects to be implemented or their faithful execution. Governor Garcia recounts an instance where an ILG secretary had to fly to Cebu to understand why she insisted on national government conformity with RA 7160. She stresses that DPWH projects often proceed without local consultation and do not align with the province's own programs, highlighting issues even within Cebu City, which operates independently of the province.