Cebu City wants to spend P7.2 billion in 2017

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City's executive department has submitted its "skin and bone" annual budget amounting to P7.2 billion for the city government's operation in 2017.The proposed budget is higher by at least P1 billion in the approved and revised P6.2 billion budget this year.

In his October 13 letter to the City Council, Mayor Tomas Osmeña said the P7.2 billion budget will try to restore "basic principles to good governance," which includes providing basic needs to the public.

"The past six years seemed an eternity. And much of the culture that I tried to inculcate in my previous administration seemed to have vanished into thin air. I ran and was elected primarily under the mandate of restoring effective and efficient management. This I will fulfill with your cooperation, we will again make Cebu second to none," the letter reads.

The budget was submitted last Friday, October 14, two days earlier than the scheduled October 16 deadline for all local government units.

In 2012, the City Council approved a P5.3 billion annual budget, which was roughly half of the proposed budget of P11.8 billion.

The council approved P5.19 billion for 2013, P5.9 billion for 2014, and P13.4 billion for 2015.

As expected, Osmeña did not include the city's expected P2.79 billion revenue from the SM-Ayala Consortium and Filinvest Land Inc. that bought 45.2 hectares at the South Road Properties (SRP) since the mayor is planning to rescind the contract.

As for fund sources, the executive department expects to raise P5.4 billion from "internal sources" that include, among others, P1.5 billion from business taxes, P1.6 billion from real property taxes, and P1 billion from non-tax revenues.

Another source of fund are external sources amounting to P1.8 billion that include P1.6 billion from the Internal Revenue Allotment and the city's share from the Ecozone amounting to P115 million.

City Budget Officer Marietta Gumia said the city's projected income would be attained if the council will approve the proposed P3.2 million for tax mapping operations program for business establishments and P3.4 million for tax mapping operations program for real properties.

Gumia said it will boost the city's tax collection.

The bulk of the proposed budget this year, P807 million, is for the city's financial assistance to registered senior citizens. The rest of the budget includes P300 million for the reconstruction of the Cebu City Medical Center, P297.69 million for the city's aid to barangays, P359.3 million for the city's scholarship program, and P224.5 million medical assistance, among others.

Osmeña, who assumed office in June, has proposed new items under the budget next year. These include the proposed P600 million for rehabilitation, remediation, and/or closure of Inayawan Landfill; P102 million rental of heavy equipment for garbage collection and others; P22 million for garbage disposal; P10 million for anapog; P50 million as environmental guarantee fund; and P2 million as environmental management fund.

He also proposed P50 million for the anti-drug campaign program, P85 million peace and order personnel serving the city, P10 million for the expen-ses of the Cebu City Uniforce or Oplan Pakigsandurot, P3 million for the renovation of the Cebu City Command Center to be located at the City Hall's 9th floor, and P15 million for the communication equipment of Command center.

Other new items are the court-ordered P60 million for the lot acquisition-garnishment of Roque Ting's property at the SRP, P33 million for lot acquisition or structure for Iglesia ni Cristo, P26.8 million renovation for the Cebu City Condominium, and P12 million for concrete fencing of the SRP.

Other items are the P4.2 million for the allowance for fiscals, P56 million for teacher's assistance program, P2.8 million for the allowance of the public attorney's office, P11.6 million for aid to the judiciary, P22.6 million food expenses of the City Jail, P8.6 million for firemen serving the city, and P2 million as intelligence fund or for the mayor's confidential expenses. (FREEMAN)