City Council told: Don’t block “people’s budget”

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants the City Council to approve in its entirety his proposed P18.9 billion budget next year.

“You should help and not restricting the ‘people’s budget.’ Usa ra akong hangyo ayaw babagi ang mga projects that will make the lives of the poor become better dili kay sige mo’g babag,” he said adding that he will carefully review the “conditions” of the budget.

Rama’s budget propo-sal for 2015 tripled this year’s P5.9 billion annual appropriations, which the city government is likely to fall short having only P4.7 billion tax collections as of the end of November.

Rama said the council should help the executive department in finding solutions instead.

“Ngano ing-ana man ang ilang utok? Why they are performing more than the mayor? It’s our job to find budget for next year not the council,” he said.

“Is it wrong to bring back the rivers? Is it wrong to beautify the coastal? That’s why we need the budget and we need all the help. If you want to beat me face me in 2016 elections, this time ayaw ninyo duwai, bugal-bugali, daug-dauga ang mga kabus,” he added.

 The committee on budget and finance chaired by Councilor Margarita Osmeña reduced Rama’s proposed budget to P13.4 billion.

Osmeña said they cannot approve the entire amount because the city lacks funding sources. She, however, said they sliced the budget based on the mayor’s priorities of projects, programs, and expenditures.

 The P13.4-billion is broken down into P1.1 billion (from the proposed P1.2 billion) for personal services, P7.6 billion (from the proposed P9 billion) for maintenance and other operating expenses and P4.5 billion (from the proposed P8.7 billion) for capital outlay.

 Osmeña said 60 percent of the estimated revenues for next year would come from the sale of government lots (P10.8 billion) on top of the regular sources like business tax, real property tax, and regulatory fees, among others.

 Osmeña said they considered the fund sources of the executive department except the sale of the North Reclamation Area (P1 billion) and Inayawan Sanitary Landfill (P340 million). Also, the P50-million shares from the joint venture and other activities were not considered because these were not clearly defined.

 The committee, however, considered P4.5 billion as possible fund source from the projected P9 billion sales of SRP lots. The council is set to deliberate the 2015 annual budget on Monday. (FREEMAN)