Recto vows support for Cebu City

Local

THE national government is stepping up support for Cebu to strengthen fiscal management, boost revenue systems, and accelerate digital reforms.

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto assured Mayor Nestor Archival Sr. of the Department of Finance’s (DOF) backing during his visit to Cebu City Hall on Thursday, September 18, 2025.

He was received by Archival, Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña, City Treasurer Emma C. Villarete, and other officials.

Recto told city leaders they can directly call on the DOF for assistance with fiscal management, implementing key reforms, or improving revenue systems.

He highlighted the Bureau of Local Government Finance’s (BLGF) role in the Local Governance Reform Project, which seeks to harmonize fiscal policies and upgrade property valuation and appraisal systems nationwide.

He also encouraged Cebu to make full use of the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s eGov PH App, a platform that integrates essential government services into a single mobile application.

Recto noted that the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act (RPVARA), alongside the increased National Tax Allotment (NTA), will help expand Cebu’s fiscal capacity.

Recto reminded local governments about financing options from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), noting that borrowing costs may ease with adjustments by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Commending Cebu’s economic performance, he described the city as a key driver of growth in Central Visayas, which expanded by 7.3 percent over the past two years, outpacing the national growth rate of 5.9 percent.

He also cited Cebu’s global position in outsourcing, trade, shipbuilding, furniture, and food processing industries.

Recto was joined by Undersecretary Maria Luwalhati C. Dorotan Tiuseco, Undersecretary Charlito Martin R. Mendoza, and Assistant Secretary Euvimil Nina Asuncion.

They attended the Visayas leg of the Philippine Economic Briefing (PEB), which gathered about 500 business leaders to discuss fiscal updates and investment opportunities.

During the visit, Recto also met with Bureau of Customs district collectors and planned to inspect the Port of Cebu and the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s Regional District Office to review operations and ongoing reforms.(MyTVCebu)