WHAT’S DELAYING PROJECTS? CITY COUNCIL SEEKS ANSWERS IN BUDGET HEARING

Some projects for which public bidding has been completed have been held up. Others are stalled by communication problems, the failure of some barangays to submit needed documents, or the supposed lack of personnel in some Cebu City Hall departments. What’s causing the delays? Councilors explored the issue Friday, the second day of the marathon hearing for the proposed Cebu City Government budget in 2018. Councilor Margot Osmeña pointed out that Engineer Josefa Ylanan, who serves both as city engineer and head of the Office of the Building Official, may have too much on her plate. Engineer Ylanan said she does have some candidates for city engineer in mind.

What’s causing the delays in the implementation of several projects in Cebu City?

A breach of communication between the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) and the barangays is one of the factors being looked into by the City Council.

During the second day of the marathon budget hearing yesterday, City Engr. Josefa Ylanan said there are some barangay officials, most of whom are reportedly from the upland areas, who do not comply with the documentary requirements.

This includes Barangays Bonbon, Sinsin, Pulangbato and Sirao, among others.

“I was asking them for locational clearances, but they told me that even before, they can proceed with the bidding even if the documents were not yet complete. At the Office of the Building Official (OBO), we give them seven days to comply with the requirements for the issuance of the clearance and then we’ll make a follow up,” she said.

But Councilor Margarita Osmeña, head of the committee on budget and finance, said the barangays are also crying foul because DEPW is reportedly slacking off in issuing the required documents.

“We understand that you’re cautious because of what hap- pened in the past projects. But anyway, if the barangay officials are not answering, maybe we can ask somebody else to help,” Osmeña said.

This, though, is not the only factor that the council is looking at over the delays in the implementation of projects.

An internal problem rooting from the engineering department itself is also being considered.

Councilor Alvin Arcilla raised questions on the status of the previous projects, which were supposed to be completed two or three years ago.

Ylanan admitted there were some projects that were put on hold after being reviewed.

Councilor Jerry Guardo, deputy mayor for infrastructure, said he has also received reports on projects that are yet to be implemented even if the bidding process was already completed.

“I couldn’t even remember discussing a memorandum of agreement presented in the council sessions about the procurement of services of contractors. I don’t understand why it’s too slow. What’s really causing the delay? Does the office need additional manpower? If so, how many so that we can address it,” Arcilla added.

Some City Hall engineers lamented that they had to work with little help following the mass termination of casual and job-order employees at the start of Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s administration last year.

But Councilor Osmeña said it was understandable before because City Hall was still on an ad- justment period, but it has been a year since.

“Where is the delay coming from? Somebody mentioned it’s the barangay, somebody said it’s not. We want to know because we want to help. Where is the lagging coming from?” she said.

For next week, Ylanan disclosed that there are four projects that will be bidded out.

However, these projects still have to undergo final review.

Osmeña said that with Ylanan working as city engineer and building official, perhaps she may be having too much on her platter.

She asked Ylanan to choose a position, where she is more confident, and present recommendations for the other position.

Ylanan said she has more experience as a building official and that she has names in mind as possible candidates for city engineer. /