City Hall assures dads of hitting P10.5B next year

CEBU, Philippines - Despite this year’s P2.2 billion shortfall, the executive department has tried to convince the members of  the Cebu City Council that it can source out fund for the P10.5 billion budget proposed by Mayor Michael Rama for  next year.

At the budget hearing yesterday, City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas expressed confidence that they can collect the projected amount from the P800 million real property taxes and P1 billion non-tax revenues.

Rama’s executive assistant, former city councilor Atty. Joey Daluz added that other sources of funds include the retirement facility project at the South Road Properties worth P40 million, SM Seaside Complex proposed extension lot at SRP worth P5 billion, and the P200 million delinquent taxes from the P650 million worth of properties.

Councilor Noel Wenceslao said that the projected annual budget could be slashed to P5.534 billion while a supplemental budget for the other P5 billion could be submitted should SM will pursue on buying a property at SRP.

“Give it to us as a challenge total kami man ang mangita og ways,” Daluz replied.

“Give the executive department a benefit of the doubt to move heaven and earth to generate the P5 billion, prudent enough to incorporate as part of the approval of the budget,” said Councilor Mary Ann Delos Santos, an ally of  Rama.

Wenceslao stressed that the executive department should be conservative enough knowing that the annual budget needs actual availability of funds.

For this year, the council slashed around half of the P11.8 billion Rama has submitted by approving only P5.2 billion.

The projected total amount for this year is P6.4 billion but the actual collections as of November 4 is P4.2 billion.

Councilor Margarita Osmeña, chairman of the committee  on budget and finance, said the city still has “to catch up with P2.2 billion before the year ends.”

Diwa said that they are expected to collect P50 million from auctioned properties next month however, it still needs the council’s approval.

Diwa added that they are confident to collect additional P200 million from the gross income taxation of  the 20 establishments which contracts are yet to expire. Two percent of their gross income will go directly to the city’s revenue said Diwa.

“We are not here to grill you, you are here to explain and also to hear our sides. But we have to be practical, realistic on our budget,” Osmeña pointed out.

Present during the budget hearing yesterday were City budget officer Nelfa Briones, Diwa, City Attorney Jerone Castillo, Daluz, City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete.

The budget hearing will resume on Monday.— /GMR (FREEMAN)