Council approves P716M additional budget

The Cebu City Council has approved the P716.5-million first supplemental budget (SB 1) of the City Government this year.

The legislative body approved as is the amount proposed by the executive department, bulk of which will pay for the city’s garbage disposal services.

During the council’s regular session yesterday, Councilors Jose Daluz III and Jocelyn Pesquera expressed their objections to some of the items in the appropriation ordinance.

Daluz objected to the statement of funding sources and the certification issued by City Treasurer Tessie Camarillo and City Accountant Arlene Rentuza that the sources of funds for the SB 1 have actual cash back-up.

“I’m objecting because the lot acquisition for 93-1 has no cash back up and I would like to suggest to the city treasurer that instead of this item, it should be changed to SRP (South Road Properties) sale wherein the collection is more than what was estimated,” Daluz said.

This prompted Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella to call for a vote on Daluz’s objection.

Nine Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan councilors voted against the matter while eight Barug Team Rama councilors voted in favor of it, which then led to the approval of the SB 1.

The additional budget’s sources of funds include realignments from continuing appropriations, which covers the previous years’ appropriations for the acquisition of the 93-1 lots.

It also includes realignments from the local development fund and personal services this year, revision of various payables, and retained operating surplus last year.

Under the newly-approved appropriation ordinance, P214.3 million was set aside for the Department of Public Services (DPS).

Of the amount, P151.2 million was set aside to cover the additional payment for garbage hauling while P56.3 million was appropriated for the rental of heavy equipment.

More than P131 million was also set aside for the Department of Engineering and Public Works, which will be used for the facelifting of the industrial road in SRP (P72 million) and repair of various streets (P35 million), among others.

Councilor Nendell Hanz Abella, who chairs the ad hoc committee on budget and finance, said they approved the amount proposed by the executive department since there were no questions about the figures.

“There were just suggestions. Based on the statements of the department heads, the suggestions were well taken,” he said. /