Supplemental budget hearing set Nov. 2

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu City council set for November 2 the budget hearing for the two proposed appropriations of Mayor Michael Rama to cover the projects and programs to be implemented during his next 100 days in office.

Proposed Supplemental Budget No. 5 for General Fund amounting to P1.3 billion and Supplemental Budget No. 4 amounting to P33.6 million shall be defended next week by the proponent individuals and offices before the members of the council's committee on budget and finance.

The proposed two appropriations were finalized last week and are now being rushed to avoid delays in the implementation of urgent projects like the drainage, asphalting of roads and medical assistance among other immediate concerns.

SB 5 for the General Fund includes the P21 million subsidy for the Cebu City Medical Center for its operating expenses, P9 million for the burial assistance program, P30 million for the City Hospitalization and Medical Assistance Program, P1.4 million for the call center training program, P5 million for the street lighting and parking and another P5 million for the city's project for the "night dwellers" or those homeless who sleep in the sidewalks at night.

To equip the city's fire fighters, Rama proposed some P20 million for the purchase of firefighting equipment and accessories. SB 5 further includes P14.5 million for the furniture and equipment for various offices, P101.9 million for the IT equipment and software and P6.4 million for the medical, dental and laboratory equipment for CCMC.

About P306 million is also proposed under SB 5 to purchase vehicles like ambulances, bulldozers and other heavy equipment.

To defray the other expenses of the Commission on Election during the recently concluded barangay elections, Rama included the P18.5 Election Reserve Fund.

The city's aid to the barangays like the construction of day-care centers, hiring of additional garbage collectors and lupons, uniforms for barangay workers and rice assistance, among others, shall amount to P81 million.

Construction, repairs, maintenance and improvement of various buildings includes the P20 million for the renovation of the office of the civil registrar, P60 million for the construction of Collection Districts which is part of the City Treasurer's goal to let the taxpayers pay at their doorstep.

The improvement of school buildings is expected to cost P100 million while the asphalting of roads and concreting will get the same amount of P100 million each.

Due to the onset of La Niña, Rama is serious in implementing a long-term solution to flashfloods and other untoward incidents by implementing the three-meter easement road which shall have a budget of not less than P10 million. The repair and construction of drainage will have a budget of P50 million.

There will also be an additional P20.5 million on top of the P20 million approved in the SB 4 for the restoration and beautification of Plaza Independencia and Fort San Pedro. Some P10 million will also be appropriated for the electrification of mountain barangays.

The SB 4 for Special Accounts includes personal services cost and maintenance and other operating expenses of the City Traffic Operations and Management, CCMC, Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor, city markets and the City Abattoir. (FREEMAN)