Council approves P3.9M budget for charter day

CEBU, Philippines - The City Council has approved yesterday the P3.9 million budget for the week-long celebration of the 75th Cebu City Founding Anniversary.

Councilor Lea Ouano-Japson, overall chairperson of the 75th Charter Day celebration, was able to defend the P3,980,275 budget for the celebration. Japson, however, withdrew the P6 million proposed allocation for the different projects in line with the 75th Charter Day celebration.

Mayor Michael Rama said he did not allow more funds to be spent for it because he wants it to be done through Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) wherein private companies or individuals will cooperate to realize the projects.

The P990,000 of the total budget approved by the council will be spent for the venue and food during the testimonial dinner at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino on February 24 which will be attended by city hall officials, barangay officials, and officials from various government agencies as well as other invited guests.

The city government has allocated P1,729,875 for the awards of the outstanding city officials and employees, P348,800 for the search for outstanding individuals and institutions, and another P150,000 for the search for outstanding barangay officials.

Among the activities lined up for the week-long celebration include medical mission, Indigay sa Balak ug Awit and Family Day for city hall employees.

Rama also ordered his staff to include in the program during the culmination activity the history of Cebu when it was still a municipality. The mayor decided to trace back the city’s history after south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña accused him during the last year’s celebration of using the founding anniversary of the city as a family affair of the Ramas.

The mayor’s grandfather, Don Vicente Rama, was the father of the Cebu City Charter. —