CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government will spend P252,000 annually for the purchase of 120 sacks of rice and 1,800 gallons of mineral water for the use of the members of the Presidential Security Group assigned at the Malacañang sa Sugbo.
The City Council has already approved a resolution for the purpose which will be endorsed soon to Mayor Michael Rama. The Mayor however has earlier agreed to give assistance to the PSG members assigned to secure the Malacañang in the south.
The amount will be charged against the city’s share from the operations of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. For the past years, the city government has been giving assistance to the PSG personnel in Cebu.
Rama said this is also in gratitude to President Benigno Simeon Aquino III for keeping Malacañang sa Sugbo. The President earlier denied the request of the Bureau of Customs to recover the building.
Malacañang sa Sugbo used to house the BOC before it was converted by then president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as her official residence in the south.
Arroyo’s decision to establish Malacañang sa Sugbo in 2004 was in gratitude for the overwhelming majority given to her by the Cebuanos during the 2004 elections.
Meanwhile, Rama has approved the release of P500,000 for the purchase of one tactical mobile patrol for Barangay T. Padilla.
T. Padilla Barangay Captain Michael Ralota, who was recently elected president of the Association of Barangay Councils in Cebu City, earlier requested Rama to provide his barangay with a vehicle to be used by the tanods as patrol vehicle to make them more effective in the maintenance of peace and order. – THE FREEMAN