Osmeña seeks approval of P600 million Supplemental Budget

CEBU, Philippines - City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is seeking the approval of another Supplemental Budget for this year amounting to P600 million, which he said will be taken from the initial deposit of SM Prime Holdings for the latter’s payment for lots at the South Road Properties.

SM will be buying 30 hectares at the South Road Properties worth almost P2.7 billion. 

Osmeña said the Supplemental Budget – 8 will be the “equalizer fund” for the barangays that get less cash disbursements. He said the fund will be disbursed for road concreting, water project, bus purchase, and land acquisitions, among others.

In line with this, Osmeña downplayed accusations that the administration will be using the money from sales of the SRP to buy votes during the 2010 elections. 

“Buy votes? Well, I’m under COA rules. How can we use it to buy votes? What they want me to do, don’t spend the money so that the people will get angry at me, but what any mayor will do is to spend the money to make people happy so that maybe they’ll vote for you. That’s not illegal,” Osmena said.

The mayor said the opposition “is just desperate,” but he reportedly does not intend to give them attention and will just continue to give projects to the barangays.

The city has been distributing dump trucks, buses, and financial aids to the barangays through its previous supplemental budgets. 

Yesterday, Osmeña met with some city officials and discussed the projects that he wants to be implemented through SB-8. He said the city will prioritize the barangays that got lesser cash disbursements like Sapangdaku.

“We’re very strong in land acquisition because we can afford to do some of that, like, sa mga right of way problems,” the mayor said.

Osmeña disclosed that the city is also looking for open spaces in the barangays that can be converted into playgrounds for kids.

So far, the city’s budget for the year has totaled P5.3 billion, which includes the P2.63 billion general fund.

Osmeña revealed that early next year, another P600 million will be appropriated for additional projects in the city through a supplemental budget. – Elly T. Bolonos/JMO   (FREEMAN NEWS)