More aid for senior citizens in SB 2

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Michael Rama made true his promise to give additional P2,000 allowance this year to Cebu City’s senior citizens.

The appropriation for the additional financial aid is included in the Supplemental Budget 2 amounting to P233.2 million that Mayor Michael Rama submitted to the City Council last Friday. 

With the additional P2,000, the senior citizens will receive a total of P7,000 allowance this year.

They have received P3,000 and the remaining P4,000 will be released in December.

Rama has promised during his State of the City Address to give an additional P2,000 allowance to the city’s senior citizens.

He also promised to increase their allowance to P10,000 next year.

SB 2 also contains P1.3 million aid to barangays.

Cebu City Budget Nelfa Briones explained that the amount is for the barangay workers who failed to collect their honorarium last year or in the previous years and not for additional honorarium for barangay tanods as earlier reported.

But some projects that Rama would have wanted to include in SB 2 like drainage projects were set aside and will have to wait until next year.

Rama said he only included the urgent items while other concerns will be in the annual budget.

He added that he immediately finalized SB 2 so that the local finance committee can concentrate on the preparation of the city’s budget for 2013.

Briones admitted that it was a challenge identifying the priorities for the SB 2.

Rama said a third supplemental appropriation may be passed before the end of the year, if necessary.

The City Treasurer’s Office certified that there is available funds for SB 2.

The funds will be sourced from the 2011 operating surplus amounting to P149.3 million, Internal Revenue Allotment difference from 2001 to 2004 amounting to P21.5 million, realignment from continuing appropriations amounting to P41.2 million and realignment from accounts payables that have been dormant for more than two years amounting to P21 million.

SB 2 also contains appropriarions of P31.3 million for the General Services Offices, which include P20 millionfor fuel, P10.5 million for security services and P700,000 for janitorial services.

About P18.5 million goes to the Department of Public Services for garbage collection and other payables.

Some P27 million will be used for geometric improvement under the Department of Engineering and Public Works.

The proposed budget for the rehabilitation of Bonbon community hospital is P5.1 million.

Deliberation of the proposed SB 2 will be on August 8 when the council resumes its regular session.  (FREEMAN)