P8.4B investment program for Cebu City pushed

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Planning and Development Office has proposed P8.4 billion for the Annual Investment program (AIP) of 2017.

The AIP contains the programs and projects for the city government to be implemented next year. CPDO came up with the plan with the help of representatives from the barangays, academe, as well as private and public individuals.

The AIP would serve as guide of the executive department in formulating the annual budget for the same year.

The city’s executive department has proposed a P7.2 billion Annual Budget for next year, which is P1.2 billion lesser than the proposed P8.4 Billion for the AIP.

The City Council has referred the proposed AIP to its committee on budget and finance headed by Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera who called for a budget hearing starting Tuesday.

The bulk of the 2017 AIP covers the programs and projects under the Office of the Mayor for its special bodies amounting to P909.8 million. The amount includes the P808 million financial assistance to over 60,000 registered senior citizens and P56 million for the teachers assistance program, among others.

CPDO head Ma. Conception Encabo said the endorsement was also approved by the Cebu City Development Council during its full council meeting last October 12.

Other proposed budgets are under the Department of Public Services amounting to P605.7 million, which includes rental of the heavy equipment for garbage disposal and collection.

Next is the P559 million for the General Services Office which includes P30 million for the repair, rehabilitation and reconditioning of vehicles and equipment and provision of materials and spare parts, among others.

Other allocations under next year’s AIP include P437.67 million for the Department of Social Welfare and Services, P396 million for the reconstruction of the Cebu City Medical Center, and P326 million for the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, among others.

Also part of the AIP is the P517 million for the amortization of the city’s South Road Properties reclamation project next year.

City Budget Officer Marietta Gumia said this is the biggest allocation for the city’s debt owing to the foreign currency rate.

Other programs and projects under the AIP are the P2 million drug testing kits, P45 million for the operation and maintenance of drug rehabilitation center, and P15 million for communication equipment for the command center to be transferred to City Hall, among others. (FREEMAN)