Reduced municipal funding halts support initiatives for residents' livelihoods.

Reduced municipal funding halts support initiatives for residents' livelihoods.

Livelihood Programs in Cebu City Hit a Roadblock

The flow of new livelihood initiatives in Cebu City, spearheaded by the Cebu City Coastline Management Board (CMB), has come to a grinding halt thanks to budget cuts sanctioned by the Cebu City Council. These cuts are largely attributable to councilors not aligned with Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia.

The CMB's pipeline of programs included training sessions for candle-making, liquid soap production, food processing, traditional massage, wellness, and footpath construction. However, the lack of funds stands as an insurmountable obstacle for the CMB to launch these much-needed livelihood opportunities.

It's worth noting that this budget reduction is part of a broader wave of cuts approved by the council. As per our previous reports, the council also dealt brutal blows to other livelihood initiatives. For instance, the economic recovery program, initially budgeted at a hefty P100 million, was whittled down to a mere P1 million. Moreover, funding for free education expenses was heavily slashed.

In the midst of these financial austerity measures, on March 26, 2025, the City Council endorsed a trimmed-down first supplemental budget (SB1), amounting to P587 million—a substantial reduction from the proposed P635 million. Regrettably, the P80 million earmarked for livelihood programs failed to make the cut in SB1. Instead, funds were allocated for Charter Day bonuses for City Hall employees, road asphalting, and the completion of the Cebu City Medical Center.

During an interview on April 29, 2025, CMB chairman Ed Karlon Rama elucidated the consequences of these budget cuts. He expressed his concern that without any available livelihood projects, the CMB is at a standstill. Training programs that had been initiated in 16 coastal barangays between March and April were funded through a resolution passed in November 2024, with a budget of over P15.4 million. Without fresh funding, the CMB's current predicament is dire.

As things stand, the CMB is aggressively pursuing funding assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to keep its livelihood programs afloat. The future of these crucial social services hinges on their ability to secure external support. Here's hoping that they manage to weather this storm and bring light to the lives of Cebu City's residents!

Insights:

• The budget cuts imposed by the Cebu City Council threaten the implementation of various livelihood programs, including those managed by the Cebu City Coastline Management Board. The cuts amount to a reduction of P3.3 billion from the initial proposed budget, along with a P79.7 million deduction flagged by the DBM due to discrepancies with the Annual Investment Plan.
• Reductions to the first supplemental budget affected programs like livelihood initiatives, as evidenced by the stalled projects.
• The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) typically provides livelihood emergency employment programs and skills training, which could complement local initiatives. However, their direct involvement with these specific cuts remains unclear.
• External partnerships with organizations such as the DOLE and NGOs may prove essential in maintaining coastal livelihood programs like fishing cooperatives or eco-tourism initiatives. Although budget cuts have created significant challenges for social services, future collaboration and support from external entities may help mitigate the impact.

1. The Cebu City Coastline Management Board (CMB) is seeking funding assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to maintain its livelihood programs, as the budget cuts imposed by the Cebu City Council have left them at a standstill.
2. In 2025, the City Council endorsed a trimmed-down first supplemental budget (SB1), which included significant reductions to livelihood programs, totaling P80 million.
3. Training programs initiated in 16 coastal barangays were funded through a resolution passed in November 2024, but without fresh funding, the CMB's current predicament is dire.
4. The future of crucial social services in Cebu City depends on the CMB's ability to secure external support, such as that from the DOLE or other NGOs, to offset the impacts of budget cuts.

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