QC gov’t implements cost-cutting measures

Quezon City mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. ordered yesterday the implementation of cost-cutting measures at City Hall in compliance with the austerity program of the government.

The measures are also intended to generate additional savings to be used in the effective delivery of basic services to the city’s 2.4 million residents.

Rolando Montiel, of the city’s general services office, said measures include the shutting off of water and electric power at the city hall complex at 5 p.m. Also, telephone and Internet services shall be exclusive for office use. Elevators will shut down from 12 noon to 1 p.m.

Montiel said the city government could reduce use of power, water and communication by 20 percent without affecting the efficiency of the delivery of basic services to the people.

Also included in the cost cutting measures is the ban on unnecessary trips both local and overseas. The city government will also suspend hiring of permanent employees until December.

A no-overtime policy, except in emergency cases, and revenue-generating ventures will also be adopted.

"Whatever savings we get from these meaningful measures will be used in further improving the delivery of basic services to our constituents," Belmonte said.

The Quezon City government has implemented austerity measures even as the Commission on Audit (COA) has come out with its report declaring the city as the richest local government in the country for year 2003. — Perseus Echeminada