P11B 2012 city budget hit

CEBU, Philippines - The proposed P11.8-billion 2012 Annual Budget of Mayor Michael Rama might be a dream come true for Cebu City, but it is a “big joke” according to Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young.

Nevertheless, he said nothing is impossible.

“I think it’s a joke but I’m inclined to go along with it,” Young said.

He doubts if the city can earn as much next year when the city, he said, barely reached its P4.8-billion target this year.

“Short man gani ta this year, how much more kung P12 billion? Wala man gain kaabot og P8 billion ang halin sa city from SRP, where will he get the P8 billion?” Young said.

Young said that all income from the sale of South Road Properties combined, even if paid all at once, does not even reach P5 billion. The city sold lots at the SRP to Filinvest Land Inc. and SM Prime Holdings for P1.5 billion and P2.7 billion respectively totaling to P4.2 billion.

Though he cannot vote but can only influence the councilors, Young said he is into approving the budget just so the mayor cannot blame them when the promises Rama made will not be delivered.

“Because this is the mayor’s gameplan. He proposes an outrageous budget which he thinks the council will not approve, then musulti siya sa mga barangays na gibabagan namo,” Young said.

“But I still think it’s a joke. Jokes always end in laughter and people will be laughing at him. He promises many things pero wala diay siya’y kwarta. Now that becomes a cruel joke,” he added.

More than half of the proposed P11.8-billion Annual Budget will be sourced from Capital and Investment Receipts which they estimated at P7 billion. The P7 billion is further broken down to Sale of Government Assets estimated at P1 billion, proceeds from borrowing at P2 billion and income from various economic enterprise estimated at P4 billion.

The city also expects to earn P1.2 billion from real property taxes and other local taxes. Some P750 million is the city’s estimated income from non-tax revenues which include regulatory fees, business and service income and other income.

From external sources including the Internal Revenue Allotment and share from ecozone, the city already has P1.1 billion.

Of the P11.8 billion, the office that gets the bigger budget is the Department of Engineering and Public Works which has a proposed appropriation of P3 billion.

A bulk of the P3 billion goes to the construction services which is given P1.9 billion. The maintenance of streets and bridges which are still part of DEPW’s job gets P913 million while the rest goes to the maintenance services and sewerage.

DEPW’s budget next year compared to this year is 500 percent more. This is where the mayor included the P700-million budget for the drainage system.

The Office of the City Treasurer proposed P261 million budget next year while they proposed P178 million this year.

The Department of Public Services proposed a P254-million budget next year compared to P155 million this year. The aid to various organizations including the aid to barangays would cost P334 million, of which P175 million goes to the Aid to City Barangays.

Over P770 million also goes to Special Programs which include the P300 million for the Senior Citizen’s Program, P100 million for the Housing Project for Cebu City Government Employees, P100 million for the Tax Collection Program, P10 million for the street dwellers, P30 million for the Teacher’s Assistance Program, P12 million for the Anti-Drug Campaign Program and P15 million for Sports Development Projects.- (THE FREEMAN)