Cebu City needs P84.3 million additional budget

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Hall’s executive department is asking the City Council to approve the proposed fourth supplemental budget amounting to P84.3 million to cover the additional expenses of the year.

Bulk of the proposed budget or P38.8 million is for the acquisition of a lot in Barangay Quiot Pardo, P13 million is for teacher’s rice support and other activities under City Sponsored Activities, P8 million is for the procurement of at least one bus, and P5.5 million is for the construction of drainage system along M.J. Cuenco Ave. to Maxilom Ave.

Others are P5 million for the procurement of dashboard cameras, P5 million is set aside to buy one unit of transit mixer, P4 million is for terminal leave benefits of city hall workers retirees, and P2.7 million for the Long Life Medical Assistance Program (LLMAP).

Further, P332, 000 is for aid to barangays and P100,000 is for the procurement of at least three units of bagger mixer.

The source of funds for SB-4 will be the unutilized funds of the city.

The budget hearing yesterday went on smoothly after the concerned offices were able to justify the proposed budget.

But what caught the attention of the committee members is the procurement of dashboard cameras which will be installed on 1,000 public utility jeepneys (PUJs) plying in the streets.

Department of Public Services head Ronaldo Malacora said they came up with this move after they were instructed by the mayor to put up dash cams on PUJs which will help solve crimes and improve the peace and order situation in the city.

Councilor Jerry Guardo suggested that the city government should enter into an agreement with jeepney operators so that the responsibilities of both concerned parties will be determined.

The city government and the operators should also sign a Deed of Donation and Acceptance in the giving of dash cams.

Malacora said he is considering the recommendation of the councilors.

Councilor Margarita Osmeña, chairperson of the budget and finance committee, asked Malacora the purpose of buying one unit of bus.

Malacora said it is an additional unit which will ferry commuters from barangay Talamban to Ayala.

Last month, the city government provided at least four buses to transport stranded workers, students and others from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. in the said area.

Based on their observation, there is a need to add one unit of bus to cater to the number of commuters who want to avail of the free service of the city government.

“Naa’y mga reklamo nga dili sila kasakay. Just this morning, I got a text from mayor nga nireklamo who wanted to extend the trip up to Pit-os,” Malacora said.

Osmeña has also asked Rosalie Verona, LLMAP head, if the P2.7 million is intended for the procurement of medicines.

Verona said the said the proposed budget is set aside to cover the expenses of buying medicines for the 45,258 beneficiaries.

At present, LLMAP has 800 workers who deliver the free medicines to beneficiaries suffering from hypertension, diabetes and arthritis.

Osmeña asked Verona how they make sure that the beneficiaries received their maintenance every day.

“Yes, I am confident (that they received the medicines) because I strictly monitor the distribution,” Verona said.

After the budget hearing, Osmeña told reporters that they are expected to issue a favorable report on the matter since the executive department was able to explain it well.

With this, the committee report will be submitted to the council for further approval next week.

“Yes, it’s very simple. It’s easy to identify where the source of funds...It’s very specific,” Osmeña said. — MBG (FREEMAN)