184 City Hall vehicles up for grabs

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government is set to auction off 184 unserviceable vehicles for at least P4.7 million after the Commission on Audit sounded off the warning bells on the city for failing to dispose of the properties.

According to Ronald Malacora, head of City Hall’s Department of General Services, this is the second batch of unserviceable vehicles the city would get rid of this year.

The first batch, consisting of 127 vehicles, was successfully auctioned off in July for P2.9 million.

“Kinahanglan na nato i-subasta kay apil man gud na sa atong AOM (audit observation memorandum). Naa tay mga unserviceable (vehicles) nga wala nato na-auction dayon so sayang ba ang value kay mo-depreciate og maayo,” Malacora told reporters yesterday.

Among the second batch are 37 light vehicles, buses, and heavy equipment and 44 motorcycles that are owned by the city.

Another 89 unserviceable light vehicles and heavy equipment and 14 other motorcycles that were owned by barangays but turned over to them by the city or the national government are also set to be sold.

Malacora said the city will first seek approval from the COA for the proposed public sale. Once approval is secured, the city will then publish an announcement regarding the auction.

In December last year, COA said at least P8.5 million may be recovered if all 311 unserviceable units would be sold.

It also warned that further delay on the disposal of these assets may result in the reduction of their saleable value.

Malacora said that after the first and second batches, the DGS will inspect other unserviceable vehicles, like garbage trucks, that may also be auctioned off later. He said this is one way of clearing the city’s warehouse at South Road Properties.

Meanwhile, Jovanne Villanueva, administrative officer III of DGS, told The FREEMAN that the prices of the auctioned units may increase as the city will choose the buyer with the highest bid.

“Lot atong disposal, the whole lot bidding, so if mopalit ka sa motor, katong 14 kabuok, dili binagsa kay tagi-tagi, dili mahurot,” he said. — JMD (FREEMAN)