The โฑ1.1-billion surplus reported by Cotabato province for 2025 did not emerge overnight. It is the latest marker in a steady rise in revenues in recent years.
Data from government reports show that Cotabatoโs revenues have been climbing at least since 2023, when the province generated roughly โฑ4.2 billion, exceeding its โฑ3.9-billion target. By 2024, collections grew further to about โฑ4.5 billion, again surpassing expectations.
These figures position Cotabato among the better-performing provinces in Mindanao in terms of revenue generation โ a trend highlighted by Governor Emmylou Taliรฑo-Mendoza in her recent state of the province address, where she also underscored the provinceโs debt-free status.
The โฑ1.1-billion surplus in 2025 suggests that revenue growth has outpaced spending โ a sign of fiscal discipline, but also a potential indicator of underutilized resources.
Local governments typically face pressure to maximize spending on public services and infrastructure, especially in provinces with persistent poverty and development gaps. A large surplus can therefore raise questions about budget execution: Were planned projects delayed? Were funds intentionally conserved? Or did revenues simply exceed projections by a wide margin?
Officials have framed the surplus as a product of efficient governance and improved collection systems, alongside expanding economic activity supported by Muslim, Christian, and indigenous communities.
A model?
Officials from the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have pointed out that many local governments continue to carry significant debt, often tied to infrastructure investments.
Cotabatoโs claim of zero debt โ combined with rising revenues โ sets it apart.
Leaders within BARMM, including Mohammad Kelly Antao, Kadil Sinolinding Jr., and Chief Minister Abdulrauf Macacua, have expressed willingness to support revenue-generation efforts in Bangsamoro areas within Cotabato.
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