DUMAGUETE CITY — A proposed P2.185-billion borrowing package for two major Dumaguete City projects passed through the City Development Council full council in a brief meeting that lasted only 27 minutes, according to official CDC minutes.
The records show that the CDC General Assembly meeting on April 20, 2026 was called to order at 2:10 p.m. by Mayor Manuel T. Sagarbarria, who chairs the City Development Council. The meeting was adjourned at 2:37 p.m.
Inside that short meeting was the approval of proposed projects as an addendum to the CY 2026 Annual Investment Program, involving a total amount of P2.185 billion to be funded through proposed borrowings under the General Fund.
The package includes the construction of a new four-storey Dumaguete City Public Market in Barangay Poblacion 3 under a Design and Build Scheme, with a proposed cost of P1.948 billion.
It also includes the construction of a twin two-storey City Hall Extension Building with parking area in Barangay Poblacion 4, also under a Design and Build Scheme, with a proposed cost of P237 million.
The CDC resolution was received and taken up by the Sangguniang Panlungsod on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, where the proposal was approved on first reading. The official CDC minutes were later presented to Sangguniang Panlungsod members during the first committee hearing on April 29, 2026, as shown by the official stamp on the document.
Traditionally, the CDC full council is expected to be a major venue for review and scrutiny, with barangay captains, city officials, business leaders, and civil society representatives given the opportunity to examine projects that may later become part of the city’s investment program, budget priorities, and borrowing plans.
But in the official minutes, the discussion on the P2.185-billion proposal was recorded in only a few lines.
“The above items were presented by the CDC Chairman to the body for their comments and feedback, hearing none, he opened the floor for approval and endorsement,” the minutes stated.
The motion to approve the projects was made by Jovencio C. Tan Jr., President of the Liga ng mga Barangay. It was seconded by Randy M. Fausto, Punong Barangay of Tabuc-tubig.
The minutes did not record any question, objection, request for additional documents, or detailed discussion on the cost, financing, feasibility, design, revenue impact, or debt burden of the proposed projects.
The brevity of the record has raised public questions because the CDC full council meeting was attended by almost all barangay captains, city officials, and civil society organization representatives.
Among those listed under civil society organizations was Cecilia T. Hofmann, represented by Aidalyn C. Arabe of GWAVE, a known civic and governance advocacy figure in Dumaguete.
Also listed was Edward C. Du of NOCCI, a business leader who has frequently appeared in public discussions and City Council proceedings as a resource person on transparency, feasibility studies, and the need for scrutiny of public projects.
Other civil society representatives listed in the minutes included Maria Gemma G. Cortes of FARAVA, Jessie G. Paderes of DUWEVA, Reynaldo V. Diala of BATODA, Jenny B. Deciar of My Home UPO, Elsa C. Colaba of DOGPVA, Paultom Y. Paras of NORSPORTS, and Juvic A. Andagan of SINERTODA.
For observers, the surprise was not only the amount involved, but the speed by which the proposal appeared to move through a body where major projects are normally expected to be questioned line by line.
The same minutes show that after the approval of the agenda items, NOCCI president Edward C. Du moved for the adjournment of the meeting. Du has frequently attended City Council proceedings and has publicly advocated for feasibility studies and greater scrutiny of city projects in previous administrations.
The motion to adjourn was seconded by Rolando A. Egera, Punong Barangay of Calindagan.
The meeting was then adjourned at 2:37 p.m.
The P2.185-billion proposal has since moved forward at the City Council level. It was approved on first reading on Tuesday, April 28, and was taken up in committee hearing on Wednesday, April 29.
The release of the CDC minutes drew attention because it showed that the historic and largest-ever loan request in Dumaguete City’s history passed through the CDC full body with no recorded questions from the floor.
At issue now is whether a borrowing proposal of this scale received the level of public scrutiny expected before being elevated to the City Council for legislative action.
The official record does not say that there was opposition. It also does not show any detailed debate.
What it shows is brief: the proposal was presented, no comments were recorded, a motion was made, the motion was seconded, and the meeting ended minutes later.