Rama is yet to study slashed budget

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Michael Rama has finally received Monday the official copy of the P5.2 billion budget of Cebu City for 2012 but he refused to say anything about it aside from endorsing the letter to City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete for further review.

The mayor will just wait for whatever recommendation from Poblete before giving announcements to the media.

The members of the Cebu City Council slashed the proposed P11.8 billion budget to P5.2 billion, saying the city’s projected revenue collections next year may not be achieved.

The P500 million flood mitigating programs, including those in downtown areas, was reduced to P240 million while the P24 million for intelligence and confidential budget was cut down to P500,000.

Rama chose not to make any statement as he has yet to have a look at it.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young was surprised why the City Secretary’s office headed by Cynthia Kahulugan submitted only yesterday the copy of the budget’s final draft for the mayor’s signature.

The City Council approved the report of the Committee on Budget and Management on December 7 and the City Secretary’s office submitted copy of the ordinance the other day.

Under the law, the local chief executive has 15 days to review the ordinance that was sent to his office for signature. He may approve it or veto the ordinance approved by the legislative body, although his veto power can be overruled by two-thirds of the City Council.

The mayor proposed a half billion-peso budget for drainage improvement hoping to solve flooding in the city.

But Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young, the presiding officer of the City Council, said: “Show us the money first. He can allocate such huge amount of budget, but he must cancel his other projects like the budget for the Charter Day celebration. Tutal ang iya anang tumong mao ra man usab ang pag-cannonize ni Don Vicente Rama.”

Young criticized Rama for “giving more attention” to the history of Don Vicente Rama instead of giving more emphasis on the history of Cebu City.

Don Vicente Rama is the mayor’s grandfather who authored the law that made Cebu a city in 1937. – (FREEMAN)