New vehicles in store for mayor, dads
Council passes on first reading appropriation ordinance for the purchase of 14 vehicles with a total cost of P12 million
THE Mandaue City Government will buy 14 new vehicles for the mayor and members of the City Council.
The council approved a resolution authorizing Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing to make the purchase and to release P12.04 million.
The appropriation ordinance was passed on first reading during the council’s regular session last Wednesday.
Councilor Nenita Layese, chair of the committee on budget, said there’s a need to pass the resolution because some vehicles used by the elected officials are no longer in good condition.
“There is a necessity for the purchase of these vehicles considering the increased basic services that should be rendered to the increasing populace of the City and considering further, that there are only few good running vehicles in the city,” Layese said in her resolution.
The resolution said the request was approved by the mayor, and City Treasurer Regal Oliva also certified that funds are available for the purchase.
The City had foreseen that it would be cheaper to buy new vehicles than repair damaged ones.
Since becoming mayor, Quisumbing said he has been using his personal car and not the vehicle issued by the government.
City Administrator Danilo Almendras asked the council to enact an ordinance regarding the purchase of the vehicles as this is required by the Department of Interior and Local Government.
Councilor Raul Kevin Cabahug, for his part, said it’s more practical to buy new cars for elected officials because their job is not confined to the session hall.
Officials have to visit different barangays to get the sentiments of their constituents, he said, adding that they need vehicles that are in good condition to do this. FMG