City to purchase P10M equipment for flood control

The Cebu City Council has approved a budget of P10.1 million from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) funds for the procurement of heavy equipment for drainage maintenance and flood control operation.

Councilor Jerry Guardo who chairs the committee on infrastructure initially requested P 11.7 million which includes the amount for the procurement of a 4x4 vehicle.

However, Councilor Jose Daluz III pointed out that the purchase of a 4 x 4 vehicle is not allowed under the PAGCOR guidelines.

“This is my own opinion, maybe backhoe can be considered as equipment to declog because we need the mini backhoe, maybe the electric welding machine, submersible pump, mini dump truck can also be a part (of the purchase) but double cab can't be charged under PAGCOR,” Daluz said.

Under the new PAGCOR guidelines released in April this year, projects designed to prevent the spread of diseases such as mass vaccination, declogging of and collection of garbage and debris in sewers and canals, construction of sanitary facilities in depressed areas can be charged against their funds.

In the resolution, the 4x4 cab is for the deployment of personnel assigned in both north and south districts of the city in order to respond immediately to any declogging and drainage maintenance concerns.

But Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera said there's no need to purchase a new vehicle as they can utilize the two vehicles that were issued to former city councilor Nendell Hanz Abella who resigned after being appointed as commissioner in Seventh Division of National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC).

Councilor Margarita Osmeña agrees with Pesquera but it was the Department of Engineering and Public Works who came up with a recommendation on what equipment to procure.

For his part, City council ex-officio member Phillip Zafra said the city government can utilize the existing vehicles which were issued to barangays during the previous administration.

The items included in the approved P 10. 1 million are one unit of L-300 which cost P 900, 000, two units of mini dump trucks worth P 2.8 million each, and two units of portable welding machine worth P 40, 000 each, two units of electric welding machine worth P 60, 000 each, two units of submersible pump with complete accessories worth P60, 000 per unit, and one unit of mini backhoe amounting to P 3, 285, 000.