Moreno decries rush in 2027 budget deliberation

Councilor Imee Rose P. Moreno, on Monday, questioned the urgency of the upcoming 2027 budget deliberations, stressing the need for a thorough review of the city government’s proposed programs.

The lady councilor made the manifestation following the approval of the resolution constituting the City Council as the Committee of the Whole to deliberate the Annual Investment Plan (AIP) and the City Executive Budget for 2027.

Councilor Moreno stressed that budget deliberations, calendared on October 15, should not be rushed like a marathon, as legislators need sufficient time to examine the allocation of public funds.

“Para sa ako-a, kinahanglan gyud makita nato kung unsa’y plano sa atong gobyerno aron makatubag ta sa katawhan,” she opined.

Moreno further emphasized the importance of understanding the government’s plans and programs clearly to determine whether these are worthy of public funding and to establish more precise expectations regarding the services that will be delivered to constituents.

“We would just like to have a clearer picture of the programs, so that mas precise ang (atong) expectations sa services sa Cagayan,” she pointed out.

Meanwhile, Majority Floor Leader Councilor Edgar S. Cabanlas manifested that these concerns and procedures be discussed during the scheduled budget hearing, where the proposed programs and budget allocations could be examined in detail.

Councilor Moreno maintained that a comprehensive assessment of the proposed budget cannot be accomplished in a single setting.

“This cannot be done in one setting. As I’ve mentioned, November 17 pa man ang atong deadline, so why the rush? Why rush our jobs when this in fact is one of the most important jobs that was tasked to us by the people of Cagayan de Oro,” she concluded. (JBD/SP)