P31M PAGCOR funds ready for city use

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government can already utilize over P31 million in accumulated undisbursed funds since 2001 from the Philippine  Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

In an executive session yesterday, the members of the City Council decided to utilize the idle funds to finance this year’s project allocations for senior citizens, persons with disability, barangay health workers, among others.

Majority floor leader Margarita Osmeña said the entire P31.4 million worth of unused balances are now available for current charges pending a  council resolution for its utilization.

Based on the records of the City Accounting Office, the amount represents undisbursed balances from infrastructure and rehabilitation projects, utilities, equipment and vehicle, peace and order programs, among others.

The council has called for a session after its members found out that P17 million of the total undisbursed funds were tagged “unsafe” following its prioritization from year 2001 to 2011.

Osmeña concluded that the recipients or proponents of the allocated charges were either not informed of the budget’s approval or failed to claim the approved appropriations.

Cebu City Accountant (OIC) Mark Solomon said  they will inform the proponents as to their unclaimed funds.

He, however, said new guidelines would be set for claiming.

“We will let the proponents know para safe and we’ll set cut-off dates for the proponents to claim if maabtan sa cut-off atong i-revert ang money for utilization,” he said.

The city accountant clarified that the P13 million unused balances from programs and projects accumulated for 10 years are “safe” for utilization.

Based on Pagcor guidelines, the Pagcor funds can be used for self-sustainable livelihood projects, scholarships, infrastructure projects that are essential to the community, and projects connected with the delivery of basic health services.

As of June 9, City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas said the city has over P90 million cash in bank under the Pagcor funds.

Of the P90 million, P72.8 million  has already been issued with Certificate of Availability of Funds.

The city receives an allocation of P4 million a month from Pagcor. —(FREEMAN)