Council OKs P17.5 million for Fuente rehab, bike lanes

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has approved the rehabilitation of the century-old Fuente Osmeña Circle and the bike lane project.

The projects need P17.5 million, which is broken down into P7.5 million for face-lifting the iconic landmark and P10 million for constructing additional bike lanes.

The budget for both projects will be sourced from the Local Government Support Fund-Assistance to Cities (LGSF-AC) as requested by the Sugbo Bike Lanes Board (SBLB) and the Parks and Playgrounds Commission.

Councilor James Anthony Cuenco, who penned the approved council resolution last Wednesday, said charging the amounts to LGSF-AC was allowed under Republic Act No. 11518 or The 2021 General Appropriations Act.

Under the Special Provision 1 of RA 11518, LGSF-AC shall be used to fund the construction, maintenance, and/or the rehabilitation of green open spaces and infrastructure for active mobility.

For additional funding, the City Council asked the Office of the Mayor to include the bike lane and rehab projects in Cebu City’s Local Development Investment and Annual Investment Programs pursuant to Local Budget Circular No. 133.

Under LBC No. 133, the Department of Budget and Management requires the submission of a notarized omnibus sworn statement by the local chief executive of the local government unit (LCE-LGU).

Also, an approved Sanggunian resolution endorsing the programs and that the same are parts of approved investment programs of the city.

Moreover, the City Council requested the SBLB and the commission to present before the body their respective projects to be funded under the LGSF-AC.

Once done, the council will authorize Mayor Edgardo Labella to sign the omnibus sworn statement. — Deogracia William Bemida, Silliman Intern, KQD (FREEMAN)