Council defers budget approval

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has deferred the approval of the budget ordinance covering the proposed P6.1 billion annual budget next year because of some figures that need to be reconciled.

The committee on budget and finance slashed the P7.2 billion budget proposed by the executive department. Some of the items in the original budget proposal made by Mayor Tomas Osmeña were reduced by the committee chaired by Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera.

  Among the items slashed by the committee was the P600 million allocation for the rehabilitation of Inayawan Landfill. The committee has reduced the amount to P85 million.

From P102 million, the rental of heavy equipment was reduced to P50 million; from P81.5 million to P20 million for drugs and medicines; from P138 million to P108 million for the medical assistance program; from P15 million to P1 million for the construction of fence at Osmeña Shrine.

Other reduced items are from P30 million to P1 million for the garnishment of Roque Ting's property; from P2.7 million to P1 million for the PROBE job order team; from P39 million to P1 million for the scholarship program from prior years; from P33 million to P1million for the lot acquisition structure of Iglesia ni Cristo property; from P22.6 million to P1million for the food expenses of the City Jail; from P2 million to P1 million for confidential expenses; from P50 million to P5 million for the anti-drug campaign program; and from P15 million to P1 million for the establishment of command control center on the 9th floor of the City Hall.

During the special session yesterday, Pesquera said the committee on budget and finance has come up with P6.1 billion budget for next year which is lower by P1.1 billion of the original amount submitted by the executive department.

Councilor Margarita Osmeña, former chairperson of the budget and finance committee, has noticed the discrepancies of some figures in the proposed ordinance.

 "The total is different. The total expenditure is larger than the estimated resources," Osmeña said.

Councilor Sisinio Andales said the committee should settle the "errors" in the proposed budget so the members will be guided.

Pesquera yielded to the suggestion to defer the proposed ordinance until the discrepancies are settled.

Pesquera, in her committee report, said that City Treasurer Tessie Camarillo has projected collections in 2017 which will be used to fund the expenditures next year.

"With the low collection efficiency this year 2016, the acting city treasurer was asked what is her target collection efficiency in 2017 of which she replied that it would be '80 percent'," the report reads.

Of the P7 billion proposed resources next year, Pesquera said Camarillo is projecting only to collect at least P5.4 billion of the proposed budget.

 But Pesquera said she included over P500 million more in the projected amount because she believes that the City Treasurer's Office will double its effort in collecting taxes to fund the expenditures of the city.

"Considering the low collection efficiency, the City Treasurer was advised to find ways to improve the collection efficiency taking into account the technology," the report reads.

Items in question

Pesquera questioned the P600 million allocation for the rehabilitation of Inayawan landfill because the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office and the Department of Public Services allegedly failed to present the program of works and estimates for the utilization of the said fund.

On the proposed P102 million rental for the heavy equipment used to collect garbage, Pesquera said it was found out that the executive department will rent 12 dump trucks.

"However, the Committee finds the amount is more than enough to buy 12 brand new dump trucks. Engr. Roberto Cabarrubias, acting DPS head stated that the city government will be the one to spend for the gasoline for the dump trucks that will be leased," the report reads.

As to the proposed P939,800 for the medical, dental, and laboratory equipment, Pesquera said the amount cannot be charged to capital outlay since the account is for supplies and materials.

As for the proposed P381 million for the scholarship committee, she said the executive department failed to account that there will be no incoming first year college students next year because of the implementation of the K to 12 basic education curriculum.

The committee also wanted that the executive department will only use the P108 million medical assistance program for the City Hospitalization Assistance and Medicines Program and not to include the long life medical assistance program. (FREEMAN)