Cebu LGUs feted for strong revenue growth

Local

CEBU'S local governments earned top spots in the Bureau of Local Government Finance’s (BLGF) 2024 performance rankings, placing them among the country’s best in revenue generation and financial management.

The recognition, outlined in BLGF Memorandum Circular No. 017-2025 dated October 1, 2025, honored outstanding provinces, cities, and municipalities that demonstrated excellence in local revenue collection and fiscal discipline.

The assessment was based on four indicators, including Local Source Revenues (LSR), Ratio of LSR to Total Current Operating Income (TCOI), Year-on-Year Growth in LSR, and Total Current Operating Expenditures (TCOE) per Capita.

Cebu Province ranked second nationwide in Local Source Revenues, posting P3.01 billion in 2024, just behind Bulacan’s P3.39 billion. The other top-performing provinces were Rizal (P2.82 billion), Pampanga (P2.70 billion), and Quezon (P2.30 billion).

Cebu also placed fifth in the Ratio of LSR to TCOI at 36.25 percent, reflecting strong reliance on locally generated funds.

In Year-on-Year Growth in LSR, the province again ranked fifth with an 88.15 percent increase, following Samar (110.08 percent), Siquijor (101.15 percent), Catanduanes (99.35 percent), and Bohol (97.40 percent).

High-performing cities

Two of Cebu’s highly urbanized cities led the country in revenue growth.

Lapu-Lapu City topped the list of highly urbanized cities nationwide with a 37.35 percent increase in Year-on-Year Growth in LSR.

Cebu City followed closely in third place with 25.76 percent growth, alongside Iloilo City, Pasig, Baguio, Angeles, Taguig, San Juan, Quezon City, and Manila in the top 10.

Cebu City also secured the 10th spot nationwide in total Local Source Revenues with P5.9 billion in 2024, ranking among the country’s largest revenue earners, including Quezon City, Makati, Taguig, Pasig, Manila, Parañaque, Pasay, Davao, and Mandaluyong.

Among component and independent cities, Toledo City ranked fourth nationwide in Year-on-Year Growth with an 18.78 percent increase in locally sourced revenues. It joined top performers such as Tagaytay, Lipa, San Pedro, Santa Rosa, and Naga.

In the municipal category, Consolacion emerged as one of the strongest performers, ranking seventh nationwide in Local Source Revenues with P711.55 million, ninth in the Ratio of LSR to TCOI at 61.19 percent, and fifth in Year-on-Year Growth with a 158.73 percent increase from 2023 to 2024.

Badian also represented Cebu in the national rankings, placing ninth in the growth category with 106.42 percent, joining other rapidly developing municipalities such as Caoayan (Ilocos Sur), Kapalong (Davao del Norte), and San Felipe (Zambales).

Criteria and validation

The BLGF used data from the 2023 and 2024 Statements of Receipts and Expenditures (SRE) submitted by local treasurers under Department of Finance Order No. 8-2011.

These figures were verified and processed by the Local Financial Data Analysis Division (LFDAD) with assistance from BLGF regional offices.

To qualify for recognition, provinces and municipalities were required to maintain at least a 20 percent LSR-to-National Tax Allotment (NTA) ratio, while cities needed an 80 percent ratio.

All LGUs also had to sustain a 60 percent ratio of Total Current Operating Expenditures (TCOE) to Total Current Operating Income (TCOI) to ensure fiscal soundness.

The BLGF directed its regional and central offices to share the results to promote good fiscal practices among local governments.

It also urged LGUs to align their fiscal management policies with the Local Government Code and related financial regulations.