Cebuano lawmakers ask for raise in budget

CEBU, Philippines - Six congressmen from Cebu are initiating a resolution in Congress urging three government agencies and the Regional Development Council 7 to re-evaluate the development program for the fourth district.

Also, the lawmakers are asking for an increase in the proposed infrastructure budget for the district for the year 2011.

House Resolution No. 339 is urging the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the National Economic Development Authority and the RDC-VII to look into their concern.

They said that the proposed P 7.7B-budget for Cebu for the year 2011 as endorsed by the RDC, DBM, NEDA, and DPWH are allocated as follows: P105 million for Cebu’s fourth district; P1.77 billion for the sixth district; P1.146 billion for the first district; P486 million for the third district; P1.69 billion for the second district; P511 million for the fifth district and P2.052 billion for Cebu City.

 Cebu Fourth District Rep. Benhur Salimbangon, the main author of the resolution, said that the allocation of P105 million for the 4th district is not only unjustifiable but also inequitable considering the infrastructure needs of the district.

He pointed out that they need to concrete long kilometers of unpaved national roads as well as repair or expand bridges.

Other infrastructure projects for the fourth district are the rehabilitation of the Sta. Fe, Bantayan airport, the construction and expansion of RORO ports in Daanbantayan, Tabogon, Tabuelan, and San Remigio; the construction and  expansion of district hospitals of Bogo, Daanbantayan, and Bantayan and the construction of school buildings in the entire district, among others.

 “If the intended allocation for the 4th district is not increased, it will deprive us of the much needed infrastructure projects we have long envisioned especially in our efforts to boost the tourism industry,” the resolution reads.

Aside from Salimbangon, the other proponents of the resolution are Representatives Eduardo R. Gullas (1st district), Pablo P. Garcia (2nd District), Ramon H. Durano VI (5th District),  Pablo John F. Garcia (3rd District) and Gabriel R. Quisumbing (6th District). (THE FREEMAN)