City saves P1.5M in this year's Charter Day expenses

CEBU, Philippines - The city government saved at least P1.5 million in expenses for this year’s celebration of the 74th Charter Day.

This was stipulated in the report submitted by Councilor Lea Ouano-Japson to the City Council. The report says the city spent only P3.8 million this year, lower than last year’s P5.4 million.

Before the celebration last month, Japson, over-all chairperson of the Charter Day working committee, was placed on the hot seat when her fellow councilors and even former mayor Tomas Osmeña questioned the proposed budget for anticipated expenses.

Vice Mayor Augustus Young himself said the budget could be better used for more important projects like aid to informal settlers along the Mahiga creek that have been displaced.

Among those questioned was the budget for dinner amounting to P1.420 million. The city was budgeting for 1,200 guests at P1,000 each. Japson’s report, however, showed that the actual expenses only amounted to P816,112.50.

Initially, the city appropriated P2.411 million for the awarding ceremony of Cebu City Hall employees. Of the amount, P260,000 was allocated for the cash award for five outstanding division chiefs at P30,000 each and for an all-expense-paid trip good for two to any local destination worth P20,000. 

The city also allocated P540,000 for the award of 20 outstanding rank and file employees.

But Japson said the city’s actual expenses were P1.911 million. Of the amount, P114,900 was spent for the individual awards.   (FREEMAN NEWS)