Foreign donations Handling costs to be sourced from PAGCOR

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has agreed to charge against the city government’s share of the PAGCOR funds the freight and shipping costs of donations from a US-based company amounting to over P2 million.

Councilors Dave Tumulak and James Anthony Cuenco moved to charge the US$56,000 or P2.6 million freight and shipping costs of foreign donations to PAGCOR funds.

These include ambulances, speed boats, and other life support equipment from Am-Phil Equipments and Logistics in Massachusetts, USA.

The company which is engaged in buy-and-sell of used and new equipment earlier donated two used ambulances, 10 new inflatable boats with engine, three used speed boats, and two used jet skis to Cebu City.

Mayor Michael Rama already signed the deed of acceptance of the donation. But due to insufficiency of funds, Tumulak and Cuenco proposed to charge the needed expenses against the PAGCOR Funds.

“Section 1, Item 3 of the Revised Guidelines for the use of PAGCOR funds provides that projects connected with the delivery of basic health services including the improvement of the facilities and the acquisition of needed equipments for city-owned or city-run clinics, dispensaries and hospitals are projects and programs chargeable to PAGCORS funds.”

Section 1, Item 4 further states that projects that has to do with public safety and peace and order in the city are likewise considered as projects and programs chargeable to the same agency.

City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas, who signed the certificate of availability of funds, showed that funds are available for the shipping of the equipment.

Councilor Gerardo Carillo, in his committee report, commended the company’s act of donating the equipment that will further contribute to a more responsive disaster management council of the city.  (FREEMAN)