Penro’s revenue collection drops in 2026

Local

THE revenue collection of the Cebu Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) has significantly dropped this year.

According to PenroChief Rodel Bontuyan, from Jan. to Sept. 30 this year, the office’s gross income reached P358 million.

During the same period last, Penro collected P558 million.

During the budget deliberation for Penro's proposed 2027 allocation, board members asked about the reasons behind the significant drop.

Bontuyan cited several factors behind the decrease, including weak demand for products, the flood control controversy, and the impact of the war in the Middle East.

"Hinay gyud karon ang demand, ako gyud na na-notice. Ako nakita, first, pagbuto sa flood controversy, plus minus ang project sa DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) mao man gyud na ang major market. Ikaduha, pagbuto sa gyera sa Iran, grabe ang impact sa fuel ngadto sa production. Medyo na-yayay gyud ang mga permittees nato niini, plus ang infrastructure sa Cebu medyo nihinay gyud, mailhan nimo sa demand," Bontuyan told the board members.

Another factor was the reduction in Cebu's fair market values following a review by the Capitol.

He cited limestone extraction fees as an example. The fee, which used to be P60 per cubic meter, was reduced to P30 per cubic meter following the Provincial Treasurer's reassessment of the fair market value.

"Limestone, for example, diri sa Talisay, ang price sa usa ka dump truck modagan man og P3,800 to P4,000 kapin ang price. That is 20 cubic meters, so more or less P200 ang per cubic ang iyang price," Bontuyan said.

As for finished products such as ordinary sand, fine sand, crushed sand, washed sand, and others, prices that used to be around P150 per cubic meter have now dropped to P120 to P125 per cubic meter.

In late 2025, Cebu Province reduced the fair market values of quarry materials, including limestone, gravel, and washed sand, to help ease construction costs.

Under the revised values, limestone costs P30 per cubic meter, washed sand ranges from P120 to P150, while gravel costs P80 to P100 per cubic meter.(MyTVCebu)