Cebu eyes bigger health budget

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CEBU CITY — Cebu province plans to increase its 2026 health budget to address rising demands and gaps in vaccine supplies, as erratic deliveries from the Department of Health (DOH) force local authorities to shoulder more costs.

During budget deliberations, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) said inconsistent shipments of medicines and vaccines from the DOH have compelled Cebu to expand its own procurement.

The PHO is proposing to raise its drugs and medicines allocation from P81 million in previous years to P319 million next year.

Budget Officer Danny Rodas noted that the initial estimate reached as high as P600 million.

“At our provincial health board meeting, I confronted the DOH and told them, ‘Why are you leaving us behind?’,” said Rodas.

PHO officer-in-charge Dr. Mary Ann Josephine Arsenal presented a total proposed 2026 budget of P1,221,217,107, including P116.1 million for Personal Services and P1.105 billion for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses.

She said the increase is necessary because the DOH “does not give us regularly our commodities,” leaving the province to fund vaccines for health caravans, dental clinics, hospital support, and anti-rabies programs.

Officials said Cebu is now purchasing vaccines typically supplied by the national government, adding both logistical and financial challenges.

Public health consultant Dr. Nikki Catalan explained that if the P600-million estimate are approved, it would be distributed across 16 provincial hospitals over 12 months, translating to around P1.6 million per month for zero-balance billing.

Catalan also urged the regularization of job order workers, saying, “moving them up to a regular position is one of the things we are working on.”

Board Member Lakambini Reluya suggested reviewing portions of the tourism budget to strengthen health services, citing Cebu’s role in “health tourism.”

She said local hospitals become regional care destinations for patients outside Cebu.

Committee on Health chairman Stanley Caminero emphasized the need to reinforce municipal health offices and accredited dog bite centers to reduce reliance on provincial anti-rabies stocks.

Under the PHO proposal, each local government unit and district hospital would receive P1 million for health emergencies and contingencies.

Provincial hospitals would get P5 million each for drug procurement, while island hospitals would receive P2 million each.

Other allocations include P48 million for medical and dental laboratory supplies, P20 million for environmental and sanitary services, P10 million for Sugbo Segurado insurance assistance, and P75 million for nutrition programs.

Arsenal reported that the province has already hired 78 doctors and completed 75 percent of recruitment for 223 nurses, with 20 positions still unfilled.

Board Member Celestino “Tining” Martinez III stressed the importance of allocating sufficient funds to address long-standing gaps in public health services.

Catalan added that DOH-RLED is evaluating Minglanilla, Sogod, Malabuyoc, and Argao for possible conversion from infirmaries to Level 1 hospitals.

KAISER JAN FUENTES