Archival seeks explanation of city’s disbursing, collection process

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival is calling for an executive session to shed light on the city’s process of collections and disbursements following the report of the City Treasurer’s Office on the city’s standing payables which is at least at P800 million.

During the Cebu City Council’s regular session last Wednesday, Archival, the minority floor leader, questioned the city’s standing payables as of August 31, 2023, which is at P859,456,681.47.

According to Archival, the amount does not seem to include the budget for the contract awarded to A.M Oreta & Co. Inc. for flood mitigation measures, which is around P1.3 billion. The city has already paid 50 percent of it.

Just this year, it has been reported that the said project identified during the administration of the late mayor Edgardo Labella is subjected to termination following the delays of its implementation.

“If you are going to think of that, alone, we have a payable of P1 billion,” said Archival referring to the standing payable accounts.

Committee on Budget and Finance chairman, Councilor Noel Wenceslao, however, said that the standing balance for the A.M Oreta is yet to be included in payables since there is no declared bill.

“Wala pa man mag bill kay unsaon pag bill nila nga wala pa man sila kasugod, ang design pay nasugdan nila,” said Wenceslao.

On the other hand, Archival further said that the City Council has received a notice from the City Treasurer’s Office that the collection revenue from January 2023 to July 2023 is at P6.5 billion.

Further reports said the existing deposits in the bank are at P10 billion. With this, Archival also raised the question if both amounts are in the same declaration.

In line with this, Archival expressed that as a councilor, he doesn’t understand how the revenue, disbursement, and payables are being treated.

Archival then raised a motion, inviting the city treasurer’s office, city accountant, Councilor Joy Pesquera, and the city budget officer for an executive session to tackle the matter in specifics.

Pesquera, majority floor leader, then responded that the marathon budget hearing, which is set to start today, will be answering these questions adding that there will not be enough time for a session since the year is about to end.

Archival countered that the budget hearing will be focusing on budget proposals. He said his call for the executive session is important to discuss the disbursement process thoroughly.

“Because we need to fully understand what’s going on because the moment you put in something, the contract, the P1.2 billion is already actually budgeted,” said Archival.

The executive session will take place on February 21, 2024. (CEBU NEWS)