Council withdraws passed resolution

CEBU, Philippines - The resolution allowing the use of the P2.9 million unexpended allocation for insurance coverage of heavy equipment and buildings to pay for the city’s obligation to janitorial and security services was withdrawn.

Councilor Noel Wenceslao explained that he has to withdraw his sponsored resolution because of the report of the Commission on Audit (COA) stating that the city failed to insure its heavy equipment, buildings and other equipment worth P864 million.

The City Council passed the resolution during its previous session allowing City Budget Officer Nelfa Briones to use the unspent P2.9 million to pay the janitorial and security services and it was already approved by the mayor.

But Noel withdrew his resolution during last Wednesday’s regular session.

City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete admitted that they have decided not to insure the city-owned heavy equipment like bulldozers and some buildings.

“Wala kami makakita og risk gani kay kawaton ba gud na’ng bulldozer nga dili man kana mapas-an and these do not carry passengers,” Poblete said.

Those not insured by the city include office equipment worth P242 million; information technology equipment and softwares (P112 million), construction and heavy equipment (P91.9 million), firefighting equipment and accessories (P67 million), hospital equipment (P55 million), technical and scientific equipment (P72 million), machineries and other kinds of equipment P122 million.

The city officials only insured some of the city-owned buildings worth P1.3 billion and vehicles worth P497 million.

The insurance code provides that all departments, bureaus, offices, agencies and instrumentalities of the government should insure all property and assets belonging to the government with the General Insurance Fund of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).  (FREEMAN)