Market chief asked to detail rehab budget

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council’s Committee on Social Services has questioned how the city’s market administrator came up with the P20 million-budget for the rehabilitation and restoration of the condemned Pasil Market (Phase 2) and fish port.

The market was condemned after it was damaged by the magnitude 7.2 earthquake October last year.

Raquel Arce, chairperson of the Markets Division Operations, has proposed P20 million for the rehabilitation project, but failed to attach the breakdown. The amount will be charged against the P200-million fund of the City’s Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management last year.

“…as forwarded in this office, nowhere in the records would show the breakdown of expenditures as to how the market administrator came up with the said amount,” part of the committee’s report reads.

Councilor Gerardo Carillo of the committee on social services chair stressed that the city administrator must submit the “scope of works” for the project for transparency purposes.

Also, the city’s Department of  Engineering and Public Works is requested to submit the project’s Program of Works and Estimates (POWE).

“There might be an urgency to release it for the immediate rehabilitation and restoration of the said facility, however, it should be always make a transparent transaction so as no untoward problems would arise after the requested amount be defrayed,” Carillo said.

“It should be remembered that although calamity funds are intended for immediate response and thus for immediate release but it should not be forgotten that the same still comes from the government funds which still follow the rules of transparency and accountability in entering into government transactions,” he added.

Carillo, nevertheless, agrees that the fish market and port need to be rehabilitated and renovated the soonest possible time as they play a vital role in the city’s trade and commerce.

“This committee shared the same sentiments and concerns of the market administrator (Arce) for the general welfare of the city’s constituents,” he said.

To recall, the Pasil Fish Market and fish port sustained massive damage with at least four people dead when the quake struck last October 15, 2013. At least 100 fish retailers and wholesalers were displaced and  lost income when operations of the market were suspended.  (FREEMAN)