THE 20th Davao City Council has approved the annual budget for 2025, totaling P14.3 billion, a 12.69 percent increase from last year’s P12 billion.
Councilor Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz, chair of the finance, ways, and means committee, explained that the increase was necessary to fund various city programs, projects, calamity funds, and salaries for plantilla, job order personnel, and contractual employees.
The largest portion of next year’s budget will go to the General Fund Proper, with P12.3 billion allocated for personal services, operating expenses, and capital outlays for city departments.
The Development Fund follows with P1.7 billion for infrastructure projects, including buildings, roads, hospitals, and flood control systems. This includes structures, road networks, water supply systems, power supply systems, flood control systems, and land improvements.
The City Economic Enterprise (CEE) will receive the smallest allocation, about P160 million, for the operation of markets, slaughterhouses, cemeteries, and other local government facilities.
The City Mayor’s Office (CMO) will receive the highest allocation from the General Fund Proper, with P5.2 billion. Other major recipients include the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) with P1.1 billion, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRMMO) with P924 million, and the City Health Office (CHO) with P800 million.
The CMO’s budget will fund several key programs, including the Lingap Program, Museo Dabawenyo, Ancillary Services Unit, Peace 911, Malasakit Center, and the newly opened Davao City Office for Culture and the Arts.
The Educational Assistance Program, managed by the Educational Benefits System Unit (EBSU), will receive P78 million to support approximately 2,510 scholars in the city. This additional funding will help increase the number of scholars.
The Lingap program's budget will rise to P600 million from last year's P400 million to expand its services, particularly for individuals needing financial, medical, and burial assistance.
A new initiative, the Monthly Financial Assistance for Qualified Indigent Solo Parents in Davao City, will receive P36 million in alignment with City Ordinance No. 0393-24. This program will provide a monthly subsidy of P1,000 to eligible solo parents.
The CSWDO’s Annual Financial Assistance for Senior Citizens will be allocated P255 million. Under City Ordinance No. 0954-22, qualified senior citizens will receive a P1,500 annual subsidy. The program aims to support approximately 1,017 senior citizens in the upcoming year.
The 2025 Annual Budget has three primary funding sources: P8 billion from the National Tax Allotment (NTA), P5 billion from Local Sources, and P95 million from the Economic Zone share.
The budget is aligned with the city’s 12 key priorities: poverty alleviation, infrastructure development, solid waste management, health, education, agriculture, business support, transportation, peace and order, disaster risk reduction, good governance, and tourism development. RGP