The Cebu provincial board in its regular session passed on second reading the proposed P23 billion annual budget for 2024 without amendments. The proposed 2024 annual budget is about 14 percent higher than this year's P20.15 billion.

Sixth District Board Member Glenn Anthony Soco said that more than half of the proposed 2024 annual budget has been earmarked for development.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia laid out the breakdown of the budget allocated for each sectoral service namely: P2,346,162,165.04 (10.20 percent) for general public services, P10,129,665,587.45(44.04 percent) for social services, and P10,524,172,247.51(45.76 percent) for economic services.

She added that P12 billion has been allocated for development programs and projects, which is higher than P2 billion this year.

The priority projects in the proposed annual budget are road and bridge construction with P3.5 billion, water system development program with P3.3 billion, and operation of hospitals and public health services with P3,833,797,821.61.

The governor said the provincial government aims to upgrade the services of the four provincial hospitals in the cities of Danao, Carcar, Bogo, and the town of Balamban, from Level 1 status to Level 2 status, by providing new medical equipment, and supplies, and additional personnel.

She also proposed to convert the Camotes District Hospital into a provincial hospital and Minglanilla District Hospital to be recognized as a Trauma Center.

Garcia allocated P100 million each for the Sugbo Negosyo Program, Sugbusog Program, Sugbo Kahanas Program, and Tindahan sa Kapitolyo. Another P400 million would be allocated for agricultural, veterinary and environmental facilities.