P24M budget for senior citizens’ vests opposed

CEBU, Philippines - A representative of a non-government organization is opposing the proposed P24 million budget to purchase vests for 69,000 senior citizens in Cebu City under the P3.39 Supplemental Budget-1 this year.

Esekias Malaza, representative of Albert Schweitzer Familienwork Foundation Phil. Inc., said he prefers that the amount be used in buying medicines for the senior citizens than vests.

Albert Schweitzer Familienwork Foundation Phil. Inc. is a member of the City Development Council, which conducted its regular meeting yesterday.

“I don’t see the need to provide the senior citizens with vest.  I don’t see any relevance. What is best is to use the money to purchase medicine instead. I am raising objection to this item,” he said.

However, despite Malaza’s objection, CDC still endorsed the budget to the City Council.

CDC presiding officer May Elizabeth Ybañez, executive director of Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the objection of Malaza was noted.

Ybañez, however, said the SB-1 will still be tackled by the City Council in its regular session next week.

Sought for comment, Mayor Michael Rama said the elderly need the vest for identification of all the registered 69,000 senior citizens.

In the proposed SB-1, each vest costs P350.

Rama said the senior citizens have already been using vests but giving them a new one will make them proud.

“The city government will give them a vest to identify that they are really… proud mana sila kun mag-vest. Ayaw lang butangi og politika, kaayo nga butangan og nawng ni Mike Rama,” he said.

As to the procurement of medicines instead of vests, Rama said the city government will soon be putting up an item in the budget for the medicine.

Evelyn Nacario of Mega Cebu also raised a point as to the proposed P6.2 million for the affected families in barangays Carreta and Tejero.

Nacario said she heard of the same project under the Department of Public Works and Highways, adding that maybe the city government can check on this to avoid duplication.

Cebu City Budget Officer Marietta Gumia said the P3.39 billion SB-1 has been submitted already.

The City Council is expected to discuss the SB-1 in its regular session on March 16 since it will be having a Philippine Councilor’s League event on March 9.

Asked if he wants the legislative body to call for a special session to tackle the SB-1, Rama said the City Council “knows what they ought to do.”

“The most important thing it’s there. It is now the call of the City Council to do what they ought to do,” Rama said.

The executive department asked for an additional budget this year to pay off the P2.6 billion outstanding balance of the South Road Properties loan.

Other items of the SB-1 include the P9.3 million to cover the honoraria of 220 volunteer fire fighters of 23 different barangays in the city. The fire fighters have not been receiving their honoraria for two months already.

Also, the executive department asked for a P6.8 million discretionary fund under the Office of the mayor; P4 million for the rewards to those volunteers during Sinulog 2016; P5.7 million bags and other supplies for teachers, day care workers, and barangay health workers; P6.2 million for special program for affected families due to fire in Carreta and Tejero; P1 million for task force cancer; P24 million for the vests for senior citizens; P2 million revenue generation program; P170 million for educational assistance program; P20 million for the burial assistance program; and P15 million for colon revitalization.

Other proposed items for the additional budget are for the Salary Standardization Law differential for the Special Accounts, prior years payables, peace and order which covers the police incentives and the public attorney office lawyers, among others.

The executive also asked for the SRP road improvement amounting to P70 million, P30 million for the bridge at SRP, P40 million for the solo parent, among others. (FREEMAN)