WATERWORKS, market drainage and expanded social services took the big bulk of the debates during the recent Strategic Planning and Budgeting workshop for Tubigon local officials and department heads held on August 25-26 in Lahug, Cebu City. Faced with the reality of a decreased Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) for the town and its reclassification by skipping into first class from a third class town, local officials face an imminent slashing of budgets to come out effective and operational as local government. Although not necessarily affected as much because the town has not been as dependent on the national government's allotment fund, Mayor Luna Piezas, a lawyer by profession, has to admit measures have to be done to make the town a competitive haven for development in this side of Bohol.Preparing for a possible shortfall of P5M from the IRA, the town officials haggled to insert each department's priorities. During the workshop facilitated by municipal planning and development coordinator, Engr. Noel Mendaña, insisted that the coping up proposed work plans and budgets should always correspond to the Executive-Legislative Agenda.

Actively participating the planning workshop were Mayor Piezas, Vice-Mayor Alfredo Batauza and the entire Sangguniang Bayan, department heads and key staff. The scrimping of budgets finally settled with the prioritization of the expansion projects for the municipal waterworks, revamp on the market drainage system as well as the budget for senior citizens and the town's persons with disabilities (PWDs). Officials resolved that from the town's general income, one percent would be set aside for the senior citizens and to aid for the PWDs. “One percent may be small but it would be significant enough for a town that has been grossing more than P50 million, the one percent could be of substance,” Mayor Piezas said.