Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia spoke to the media through teleconference on Wednesday, June 11. | Fb Stay/Cebu Metropolis PIO
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Outgoing Cebu Metropolis Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia has fired again at claims the town is working out of cash, armed with nationwide recognition for sound fiscal administration.
In a teleconference on Wednesday, June 11, Garcia refuted mayor-elect Nestor Archival’s current assertion that Cebu Metropolis could not have sufficient funds to maintain operations and pay staff. He known as the remarks “baseless” and “uninformed.”
As a substitute, Garcia pointed to a significant recognition from the Bureau of Native Authorities Finance (BLGF), which just lately cited Cebu Metropolis as the highest 1 in Central Visayas in “highest domestically sourced revenues for 2024,” with practically P6 billion collected.
“It is a vindication for me towards all of the hostile feedback and stories… regardless of studying some (unfavorable) allegations from others opposite to what we’re doing, we have been, actually, very circumspect in our spending. This current acknowledgment from the BLGF that Cebu Metropolis is no 1 in Area 7 in native income technology,” Garcia mentioned.
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Garcia, at present on go away to satisfy a previous dedication as Vice Mayor, is about to formally obtain the awards, together with the Maharlika Award for Excellent Public Servant, from BLGF on June 19.
The Maharlika Award is given to officers for distinctive management in native governance and finance.
“I’m very pleased about this. That is actually a vindication. I don’t recall BLGF ever giving Maharlika Awards to a mayor in Cebu Metropolis earlier than,” Garcia mentioned.
The BLGF, in its invitation letter to Garcia, confirmed Cebu Metropolis’s 25.84% year-on-year progress in domestically sourced income, totaling P5,986,955,338.90 in 2024.
The efficiency was attributed to the Metropolis Treasurer’s Workplace and the Metropolis Assessor’s Workplace underneath Garcia’s administration.
“I feel it’s important to outline domestically sourced income. That is the results of the native authorities’s efforts—we have been environment friendly in that, and that’s why we have been awarded,” he mentioned.
He pressured that the award covers the interval underneath his administration in 2024 and displays “fiscal self-discipline, transparency, and duty.”
Garcia additionally made it clear that, regardless of rumors, the town didn’t increase native taxes throughout his time period. As a substitute, the main focus was on modernizing and tightening income assortment mechanisms.
“Mainly, fiscal administration is the spine of efficient governance because it ensures public funds are allotted effectively, transparently, and responsibly to fulfill the wants of constituents. In Cebu Metropolis, fiscal administration is essential as a result of it performs an important function,” he mentioned.
Garcia refutes Archival’s statements earlier this week that the town’s out there money is probably not sufficient to cowl operations, wages, and undertaking obligations.
“Perhaps that’s a dialogue for an additional day,” Garcia mentioned.
“However his assertion appears to be primarily based on (rumour). He didn’t even seek the advice of the Treasurer’s Workplace. I’d fairly offer you a whole and fact-based monetary image, together with financial institution deposits, fastened property, and present market values, as soon as it’s prepared,” he added.
In a earlier interview, Archival mentioned preliminary stories from the transition staff confirmed money property have been “inadequate” to cowl primary wants, elevating concern amongst suppliers and contractors.
Garcia didn’t immediately deal with these points intimately however mentioned he would fairly current “verifiable information” earlier than issuing a full monetary report.
The Pasidungog sa Siete 2025 ceremony will happen on June 19, organized by the BLGF Area 7 and the Affiliation of Native Treasurers and Assessors in Area 7 (ALTA 7, Inc.).
Garcia, alongside the Cebu Metropolis Treasurer and Assessor, will obtain the Maharlika Award for Excellent Public Servant and the town’s citations for fiscal efficiency.
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