Council defers proposed P300K drone procurement

CEBU, Philippines — The request to procure a drone worth P300,000 for the implementation of the S.A.Y.A.W Para Buhis program faced scrutiny, leading the proponent to defer the proposal.

Last Wednesday, during the Cebu City Council regular session, Councilor Noel Wenceslao, chairman of the Committee on Budget and Finance, filed a motion seeking an approval for the release of funds under the Fiscal Year 2025 Budgetary Allocation for the Office of the Mayor on Special Projects, specifically for the S.A.Y.A.W Para sa Buhis program.

The request is intended to support the procurement of essential IT equipment and connectivity tools necessary for the effective implementation of the program. He added that it is crucial in strengthening the City's revenue collection systems.

However, during the discussion, Councilor Jose Lorenzo Abellanosa sought a clarification on the use of a drone for the implementation of the project.

Councilor Rey Gealon then explained that, to recall, those assigned to the Cebu City Treasurer s Office are engaged in tax mapping, where flying drones is necessary in areas they cannot penetrate.

As the discussion progressed, Wenceslao confirmed that the P300,000 proposal was intended for only one drone, to which Gealon then exclaimed was  too expensive  for one tool.

In line with this, Wenceslao moved for the deferment of the proposal, as he sought to clarify the number of items being proposed.

In June 2023, the City Government launched the Sayaw sa Buhis  program, or the  Strategic Assessment for Your Assets and Worth (Sayaw) para sa Buhis , which is an initiative that included the target collection of P28 billion in delinquent real property taxes.

It was headed by former city treasurer Ofelia Oliva.

Meanwhile, the council also approved the annual budget of Barangay Babag, Cebu City, for the year 2025 in the amount of P11 million.

The council also approved the P24.4-million annual budget of Barangay Basak Pardo, as well as the P52.6-million annual budget of Barangay Basak San Nicolas. The annual budget of Barangay Sudlon I was also approved by the council amounting P7,236,664.

The council approved the annual budget of Barangay Taptap amounting to P6,689,213; the P1.4-million annual budget of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) of Barangay Calamba; and the P3.3-million for Barangay Mambaling SK. — /JG (FREEMAN)