City Council defers budget for barangay captains' training

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has deferred the approval of Mayor Michael Rama’s request to charge in the City Sponsored Activities Account the over P700,000 training expenses of the barangay captains.

Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña who chairs the committee on budget and finance did not recommend for the approval of the resolution sponsored by Councilor Jose Daluz III pending the reports of the office of the mayor, city treasurer, and the budget officer.

The council earlier passed a resolution requesting the mayor’s office, city treasurer, and the budget officer to submit a report on how the P30.6 million allocation for City Sponsored Activities was utilized.

Osmeña said that they are already very careful in approving allocations under the City Sponsored Activities Account because the budget for the said account is already depleting. She said that as of June 5, the expenses under it was already P29,125,660.

Daluz moved that the P775,000 expenses incurred during the trainings of barangay officials on government procurements will be charged against the City Sponsored Activities. There were also other expenses that Daluz wanted to be charged under the account.

The records show that most of the expenses charged against the city-sponsored activities were those made for the Sinulog activities and during the Cebu City Charter Day celebration last February 24.

The City Council has approved the recommendation of the Committee on Budget and Finance to defer the approval of the resolution of Daluz until a more detailed explanation from the office of mayor and the two departments is submitted.

The P775,000 was spent by the Project Review Implementation and Monitoring Office (PRIMO) which requires all barangay captains and at least three other representatives to attend a seminar on government procurement law.

Primo head Ronald “Raddy” Diola said the seminar will ensure the efficiency and effectiveness in the implementation of procurement and liquidation of financial assistance extended by the city to the barangays. — (FREEMAN)