Help sought to build CH satellite offices

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Resource Management and Development Center (CREMDEC) is seeking the help of the national government and the private sector to build a satellite City Hall in the mountain barangays.

CREMDEC executive director Allan Bautista said they do not want the planned satellite City Hall to remain just a dream because the main purpose of building a satellite office is to bring the services of the city closer to the residents uphill.

The proposed two-storey satellite office will cost P40 million but it was not budgeted a single cent under the 2012 Annual Budget.

Even the P13 million additional budget needed for the phase 2 of the Center for Local Governance Project, an expansion of the current CREMDEC building was not appropriated a budget this year.

Bautista said that the two-storey satellite City Hall shall house all departments as extension or annex offices.

This way, residents will not have to travel a long way to the city proper to avail of the services, Bautista said. Mountain barangays residents spend about P100 to P150 as fare to come down to the city proper.

CREMDEC will also seek national aid for the completion of the Center for Local Governance Building.

Bautista said that the P9.4 million standby fund existing has already been bid out so initial construction will start soon.

The Center for Local Governance building will increase the capacity of the current CREMDEC building. Currently, CREMDEC has 40-bed capacity. Once the Center for Local Governance building is constructed, they will have additional 72-bed capacity.

The Center for Local Governance building will also have a function room capable to accommodate 200 persons.

When they proposed the additional P13 million, CREMDEC promised to recover the cost of the construction within five years.

CREMDEC earns P5 million a year. Their income is expected to double once they are able to expand. — (FREEMAN)