Council approves release of P2.4M-Pagcor funds

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has approved the amount of P2.4 million for the purchase of various items in 23 barangays, charged against the City’s share of the government-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) funds.

Under the guidelines for the use of Pagcor funds, the money can be spent for programs and projects that boost peace and order, health services and livelihood programs.City Councilors Ronald Cuenco, Eduardo Rama, Noel Wenceslao, Sisinio Andales and Augutus “Jun” Pe Jr. have filed separate resolutions charging releases to the Pagcor funds.

Cuenco and Pe has set aside P500,000 each for the purchase of one patrol car in barangays Pahina San Nicolas, Kalubihan and Hipodromo. Pe also appropriated the amount of P22,500 in barangay Babag for the purchase of handcuffs and whistles. 

Rama appropriated the amount of P184,000 for the purchase of handheld radios and tanod equipment in barangay Sapangdaku.

An appropriation of P674,000 was approved for the purchase of mono-bloc chairs in barangays Malubog, Apas, Sto. Niño, Adlaon, Agsung-ot, Binaliw, Cambinocot, Guba, Lusaran, Mabini, Paril, Pit-os, Pulangbato, Sinsin and Taptap. The resolution was sponsored by Andales. Wenceslao, for his part, appropriated P78,056 for the purchase of flat screen televisions in Lusaran and Paril, and industrial fan and air-conditioning unit at the health center in Tejero.

City Hall receives P3 million per month from the proceeds of casinos that Pagcor operates in the city.

Wenceslao pointed out that the barangays usually seek the assistance to the City because of their limited budget.

In last Friday’s council session, the Council approved the allocation of P810,030 for the purchase of instructional materials for 80 day care workers and 54 kindergarten teachers.

Councilors Margarita Osmeña and Nida Cabrera spent their local development fund (LDF) appropriations or pork barrel for learning boards of kindergarten schools in the barangays.

In their joint resolution, they said there is an urgent need to appropriate instructional materials for the day care centers to aid them in the implementation of the Early Childhood curriculum.

“The Department of Education-Cebu City School Division recognizes the need and importance of stimulating intellectual development of the preschoolers in public schools through our Day Care and kindergarten teachers,” the resolution read. (FREEMAN)