Cebu City: Proposed supplemental budget down to P5.8B

CEBU, Philippines - The Local Finance Committee has brought down to P5.8 billion the proposed P10.5 billion Supplemental Budget for 2014.

The committee recommended to slash P4.7 billion from the proposed amount based on the available sources of funds the executive department presented to the Council during the budget hearing last week.

With the recommendation to slash, the Council then advised the executive department to prioritize the projects it wants funded by the P5.8 billion.

Majority floor leader Margarita Osmeña who heads the Council committee on budget and finance commented that the executive department should determine the programs that need immediate appropriation for next year’s operations.

“We have to be practical, put aside other things first and we will work on initially with the P5.8 billion. We don’t want to slash, want we want from you is your prioritization on what is important and implementable,” Osmeña said.

Councilor Noel Wenceslao agreed with Osmeña, saying that “the executive department should decide on what to prioritize” during the final deliberation of the proposed annual budget.

“Based sa deliberation of sources of fund kabalo nata pila ang atong i-approve and kung pila ang atong mahatag,” Wenceslao added.

Osmeña, however, suggested that the amount slashed be made part of the supplemental budget that would be proposed next year, still, based on the availability of funds.

“This is not the end of the Annual budget… as of now, mu-base lang ta what is realizable and important because we better to be honest with you kay in the end kuwang gyod ang kwarta,” Osmeña said further.

Belinda Navascues, the executive secretary of Mayor Michael Rama agreed with the recommendation to slash and to include the P4.7 billion in next year’s SB, but City Administrator Atty. Jose Marie Poblete defended the proposed amount, saying the executive department has studied the sour-ces of funds and the necessities of every department carefully.

“Gitan-aw namo ang need sa mga departments and we should give utmost respect in coming up with the budget. We identified some fund sources, maybe some of it is still questionable,” Poblete said.

“There will be a time to prioritize. We are committed nga karga ang sources of funds para sa gipang-forego nga projects,” Poblete added.

Lawyer Atty Joey Daluz, executive assistant to the mayor and former city councilor, earlier identified the city’s sources of funds that include the retirement facility project at the South Road Properties worth P40 million; the SM Seaside Complex proposed extension lot at SRP worth P5 billion; Waterfront (P80M); and P200 million worth of delinquent taxes from properties.

Osmeña stressed that they cannot approve the bulk amount if the figures presented are not enough for the approval of the proposed budget.

“The figure is there, we can base it there as presented by the local finance committee and eventually by the Commission on Audit (COA),” Osmeña said.

Further, during yesterday’s budget hearing, Osmeña questioned why training expenses have to be incorporated in every department’s budget “making it triple to that effect”.

“Naay training sa HRMO, Mayor’s office and sa respective body. So duplication na nuon, the employees will not be able to work kay sige nalang og trainings,” Osmeña stressed.

On the other hand, Osmeña said the office of the city treasurer is confident to collect close to P1 billion before the year ends from Filinvest Land Inc (P400M), and P500 million for next year, Japanese retirement facility (P40M),  Bigfoot (P7M),and auctioned properties (P50M).

Osmeña said though there is close to P1 billion collectables next month, still the city has bulk of payables of expenditures of P233.59 million personal services and P 72.12 million maintenance and other operating expenses totaling to P962,612,003 million. —/JMO (FREEMAN)