Cebu City SP questions calamity fund balances

CEBU CITY – Only P17 million of Cebu City’s P202 million calamity fund for this year has been spent so far and the expenditures included P13 million worth of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras and the salary of job-order employees.

The manner of spending the calamity fund became the subject of scrutiny by the City Council during an executive session yesterday.

Councilor Gerardo Carillo warned the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC) of a possible anti-graft case if they fail to be transparent.

Councilor Margarita Osmeña noted that the disaster risk reduction and management office did not immediately submit a utilization report of the calamity fund despite repeated requests by the City Council.

Councilor Nida Cabrera also pointed out that this year’s calamity fund was used for the salary of job-order employees who are allegedly assigned in other City Hall departments.

This promoted Cabrera to ask for a separate report on job-order personnel under the disaster risk reduction and management office.

The City Council also noted that there is P105 million in unspent calamity fund from previous years.

The City Council committee on budget and finance, chaired by Osmeña, discovered that the purchase of 20 CCTV cameras has been funded by the calamity fund.

“The CCTVs were not part of the (disaster risk reduction and management) program so why was it charged under the calamity fund?” asked Osmeña. JGA