City council approves P183M for post-earthquake projects

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council yesterday approved the transfer to a special account for disasters P183 million in general and special education funds to finance the city’s post-earthquake rehabilitation programs.

The move was in response to the appeal of City Councilor Margarita Osmeña, who delivered a privilege speech requesting that the amount be moved immediately to the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund (LDRRMF).

“Clearly, the P85 million plus the unexpended balance of P18 million calamity fund and the P80 million SEF (Special Education Fund) or a total of P183 million can be immediately used to address the needs of our city and our people affected by the earthquake and most especially our children whose schools have been damaged,” said Osmeña, who heads the council committee on budget and finance, in yesterday’s city council session.

The P85 million she was referring to was part of a P105.39 million LDRRMF for this year, as determined by OIC Accountant Josefina Gonzales in an Oct. 1 report.

“Gonzales wrote that of the P105,392,234.99, only P20 million was transferred to the Trust Fund, leaving a balance of P85,392,234.99,” Osmeña said in her speech.

She said Acting City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas also told her of the P80 million SEF, which represents one percent of revenue from the collection of real property taxes.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said that as long as minor tremors continue to be felt in the city, the incident command center established a few hours after the 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Cebu and Bohol Tuesday last week would continue to operate 24-hour a day.

“Of course there is no substitute for prayers. But we have to prepare.

Lisod man kaayo ng manghipos na ta unya naa pa diay daghang (It cannot be that we pack already when there are still) aftershocks,” he told reporters.

Also, Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office Operations Head Alvin Santillana said they have assisted the provincial government in transporting relief goods bound for Bohol via the South Road Properties.

“At 10:30 today (Wednesday), we sent the provincial government relief operations team as they requested to have a private yacht depart from SRP near our Bantay Dagat office. The goods, mostly water, rice, canned goods, were unloaded from one dumptruck and six delivery vans. We suggested that they take them to Tubigon town,” Santillana said. — (FREEMAN)