P6.2B budget pushed for 2018

Cebu City Hall’s executive department has submitted a P6.29billion proposed annual budget for city government’s operations in 2018.

Of the proposed budget, P606 million goes to the city’s financial assistance to senior citizens, P313 million will be for garbage collection and disposal, P213 million for the City Hospitalization Assistance and Medicines Program and Long Life Medical Assistance Program, P204 million for the scholarship program, and P173 million for aid to the barangays, among others.

The proposed budget for 2018 is lower by P1 billion compared to this year’s P7.2 billion. City Budget Officer Marietta Gumia said the executive department has projected the amount conservatively to reach next year’s target collection, among other reasons.

In 2012, the city government operated with a P5.3-billion annual budget. In 2013 the city had P5.19 billion, P5.9 billion in 2014, and P13.4 billion in 2015.

From the P6.29 billion for next year, P2.8 billion was allocated for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses for various offices and departments of the city government.

The proposed budget was submitted last Thursday to the City Council which will deliberate the proposal.

City Councilor Joel Garganera, who got copies of the proposed budget, expressed concerns on the proposed P313 million for garbage collection and the P65 million for the rental of heavy equipment which is also for garbage disposal.

“Presko pa kaayo sa akong panumduman, niingon si Mayor Osmeña nga ang Rama nga administrasyon nag usik-usik sa kwarta para pag-dispose sa basura. Unya hapit times 10 ang budget niya itandi sa kanhi administrasyon. Naa pay rental sa garbage trucks nga moabot dili menos P120 million sa usa ka tuig. Maapil ta sa kayabag ani,” he said.

To recall, in 2016 the Department of Public Services had a P310-million budget which includes P135 million for the garbage collection and disposal.

But for next year, the said department proposes P459.6 million for both garbage collection and disposal and the rental of heavy equipment.

Other proposals under the budget include P507 million for debt servicing so the city government to pay its loan to the Japan International Cooperation Agency for the reclamation of 300-hectare South Road Properties.

Also, the executive department proposed P95 million for teacher’s assistance, P90 million for confidential fund, P79 million for persons with disabilities program, P65 million for the rental of heavy equipment for garbage collection, P60 million for the paving and retreading of various city streets, P55 million for citysponsored activities, P54 million for barangay health programs, P52 million for the environmental guarantee and management fund, P50 million for the burial assistance program.

The executive department also set aside less than P50 million for the remaining programs and projects, P40 million for day-care programs, P25 million for the construction of medium-rise buildings, P25 million for site development, and P22 million for election reserves.

P8 million was proposed for the discretionary fund and P6.8 million for the nutrition program.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña also included the procurement of fire extinguishers at P7 million.

The budget was submitted to the city council for deliberation last Thursday, October 14, three days earlier than the scheduled October 16 deadline.