P1.5 billion drainage budget unused

CEBU, Philippines - With just a few weeks left before the year ends, at least P1.5 billion worth of drainage projects in Cebu City remains unimplemented by the city’s Department of Engineering and Public Works.

This was learned during the last day of the budget hearing on the city’s annual budget last Thursday.

Because of this, City Council members questioned the “substantial” amount, which they said would have helped address the flooding problem of the city.

Councilor Margarita Osmeña, committee on budget and finance head, asked if DEPW can still beat the deadline and use the amount considering that the department is asking for P1.35 billion in budget for next year.

She said DEPW has an unspent budget of P1.5 billion according to its Status of Appropriations, Obligations, and Balances as of October 15.

“Can we make apas? What is our rate of implementation? If we are this far behind in 2015, and we have projected programs for 2016, what is our forecast for rate of implementation?” she asked.

City Engineer Jose Marie Poblete admitted that indeed there was the unspent budget.

He explained that there are several drainage projects implemented by his office this year and in cooperation with the barangays.

“Ang common problem sa drainage projects kay in spite sa millions nga atong gibubo in some areas, ang question ni come up is that responsive ba ning mga projects?

Ang common denominator sa mga pangutana is ang problem ang mga canals nato ba during heavy rains mas habog pa ang tubig sa canal kaysa sa atong drainage lines, which is mao ni atong tubagon sa P1.5 billion nga project,” he said.

Poblete said the DEPW would need a thorough study for a channeling project where the P1.5 billion, which is a lump sum account, would be spent on.

“At the back of my mind, dili ko ni usik-usikan kwartaha para lang ingnon ta nga i-implement. If we remember, kini nga pondo ang detalye ani as to what projects, are all channel improvements. Unsa pasabot ani? Ang kanang atong canal atong lawoman, i-widen, atong i-riprap ang kilid with due observation sa three meter easement unta. Apparently, dili ingon ana ka sayon i-implement kay wala tay detailed engineering, or ang detailed plans ana,” he said.

Implementation of the channel improvements would affect many private establishments and houses that are encroaching on the three-meter easement zone along rivers and creeks of the city.

Poblete said DEPW would utilize a portion of the P1.5 billion to hire a consultant who would conduct a detailed engineering and to assess the costing of the whole channeling improvement project.

“Dili ta mo embark sa project implementation with the same situation lang diha nga imong i-riprap lang diha and i-dredge, but wala i-widen. Ang problema nga atong nakit-an, kon naay i-riprap, in the process, there is a possibility nga i-legitimize nimo ang encroachment. Kay ngano? Ninglapas naman ang balay, so makaingon nga okay ra diay mag-encroach kay nag riprap man gani ang government,” he said.

Osmeña told Poblete that all lump sum appropriations should go back to the City Council for perusal and approval since it is the “proper and efficient way” of using the city’s funds.

“But, why put it (projects) there, when we can’t use it pa? We can use it for other things for the meantime,” Osmeña said.

Poblete said in response that DEPW has been implementing backlog projects this year, which explains why they failed to start the P1.5 billion drainage project.

He said DEPW has implemented P200 million worth of infrastructure projects from  October to November this year, adding that they would continue implementing all backlog projects, or those from previous years, until February next year to start the use of the P1.5 billion.

DEPW also has an unspent P1.2 billion for construction services and P1.9 million for sewerage and drainage system this year.  Poblete said DEPW did not ask for the drainage project budget for next year since the office would prioritize implementation of the unspent P1.5 billion.

“I hope you will empathize with me on this. In previous years, daghan na gihimo sa drainage, requested based on technical evaluation and from brgys; but nganong naa pa man ang baha? We decided to go macro, dapat tarong ang drainage implementation,” he said.

“I know this is big amount. Dili usik-usikan ang pag-implement if project is not worth it,” he added.

Meanwhile, members of the City Council also questioned some items under DEPW’s proposed P1.35-billion budget, specifically the P100 million for a new abattoir, P50 million for a mortuary, P30 million for construction of bridges at the South Road Properties, P100 million for construction of the Unit II Carbon Market building, P1 million for the renovation of Unit I Carbon Market building’s flooring, P20 million for the Pasil Fish Market renovation, P10 million for the Pasil Fish Port renovation, and P10 million for the construction of communal toilets, among others.

DEPW also asked for P10 million for traffic management master plan, P10 million for the SRP master plan, P10 million for the coastal area master plan, P10 million for the downtown area master plan, and another P10 million for the upland barangays master plan.

Poblete said he will submit a detailed breakdown of the budget for all the items the council questioned. — /RHM (FREEMAN)