P230 million supplemental budget proposed

CEBU, Philippines - The sixth supplemental budget amounting to P230 million was proposed to the Cebu City Council yesterday.

In his budget message, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña referred to SB 6 to cover urgent and necessary expenses, particularly for the barangays.

“In the nitty-gritty of public service, undeniably there are small but very disturbing problems in the barangays, the little eyesores which if lumped together would be burdensome for the city officials to deal with effectively,” Osmeña said.

Osmeña said the barangay officials, being frontliners, should be equipped and supported to address immediate concerns of the barangays.

Osmeña also said they will launch the Community Micro Assistance Program which improves the concept of self help projects and empowers the barangay. CMAP has a budget of P15 million.

The Emergency Assistance Program, Osmeña said is another vital move on the part of the city in promptly assisting the people through the barangays during their very stressful times.

The EAP under the Department of Social Welfare and Services reached P13 million.

The compromise payment was reached to avoid further cost of litigation and increase in debts.

The city will pay around P28 million to lot owner Ciriaco Ortega for an expropriated property in barangay Hipodromo which has an area of 2,856-square meters instead of the P32 million set by the Regional Trial Court and upheld by the Supreme Court.

On the other hand, the property of businessman Roque Ting, who is one of the private claimants of lots within the South Road Properties, will also be paid by around P13.5 million.

The City Health Department stands to get P6 million from SB 6 for the purchase of five pick-up trucks and medicines, P8 million for the Department of Public Services for its multi-lift garbage trucks purchase, and P2.6 million for the equipment for skills training at the Department of Manpower Placement and Development.

It was reported that SB 6 was introduced following the gripes raised by some barangay officials, who lamented the limited services and assistance from City Hall and the bad condition of their roads and bridges.

It is in this light that some people in the barangays said they rely on the help of opposition leader Jonathan Guardo to provide their medical, burial and sports programs. — Ferliza C. Contratista/BRP (THE FREEMAN)