AMONG ALL LGUS IN REGION 1

THE Department of Budget and Management Regional Office 1, has confirmed that Dagupan City is the first Local Government Unit in the Ilocos Region whose 2026 annual budget has been declared operative in its entirety, effective January 1, 2026.

This was announced in a letter addressed to the Sangguniang Panlungsod from DBM Region 1, signed by Regional Director Ria Bansigan on December 26, 2025. The letter states: “In accordance with Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, our review of the FY Annual Budget for the City of Dagupan—encompassing an appropriation of P1,838,000,000.00 under Appropriation Ordinance (AO) No. 2347-2025, submitted on October 24, 2025—demonstrates substantial compliance with the relevant laws and regulations.”

AO No. 2347-2025 was authored and presented by Councilor Jeslito Seen, chairman of the committee on finance, budget, and appropriations, and received unanimous approval from the Dagupan City Council.

During her program “Sumbungan ng Bayan” on Kabaleyan Channel 17 of USATV, Mayor Belen Fernandez expressed her gratitude to DBM for the prompt review and approval of the city’s budget, enabling Dagupan to fully fund all planned programs and projects beginning January 1, 2026.

Fernandez attributed this achievement to the timely passage of the budget by the new majority in the Dagupan Sangguniang Panlungsod, which occurred in the third week of October 2025.

This marked a notable improvement compared to the budget approval timelines of 2023 and 2024, where delays were largely attributed to opposition members in the Sanggunian.

Following the May 12, 2025 election, where all but one opposition councilor was replaced, the 2026 proposed budget easily got approved through the Sangguniang Panlungsod, now dominated by the mayor’s allies.

“Many thanks to Vice Mayor Bryan Kua and the new majority in the Dagupan Sanggunian. The 2026 annual budget was approved in record time, thanks to the continuous public hearings conducted by the city council and concerned department heads,” remarked Fernandez.

The mayor, who is currently serving her second term after reclaiming her position in 2019, noted that in past years, budget approvals faced significant delays—September 26 in 2023, which was ten months late, and March 29 in 2024, three months overdue—due to opposition councilors’ attempts to strain her administration financially.

In contrast, the 2025 budget was passed as early as November 12, made possible by the temporary suspension of three opposition council members by the Office of the President.

Under the leadership of the new Sanggunian majority, all resolutions and ordinances, accompanied by urgent certifications from the city mayor,  have been addressed promptly,  ensuring that essential programs and projects proceed without delay, affirmed Fernandez. (Leonardo Micua)