Additional budget pays for baywalk ( South Road Properties), rice
By Doris C. Bongcac
Cebu Daily News
Last updated 09:06am (Mla time) 12/01/2007
Funds for a new baywalk at the South Road Properties (SRP) and Christmas bonuses in the form of sacks of rice were among the items that got the biggest chunk in another supplemental budget proposed by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
The latest supplemental budget, worth P27 million, is the sixth that the mayor submitted for approval to the city council.
If this proposed budget is approved, all supplemental budgets so far will have totaled P523.37 million.
This is in addition to the city’s annual budget of P2 billion.
Osmeña said that Supplemental Budget No. 6 would use unappropriated funds from the city’s share of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), excesses from the 2006 budget, and realigned surplus from the 2004 Local Development Fund.
In the city council’s Nov. 28 session, the mayor’s proposal was submitted to the committee on budget and finance. A budget hearing has been set for Dec. 11.
Allocations for the new proposed budget include P7 million for the development of a 1.2-kilometer stretch of beachfront property along the SRP into a commercial strip, P6 million for rice for barangay officials and employees that will serve as their Christmas bonuses, and P3 million for the renovation of Carbon Market’s unit 3.
Another P3 million was allocated for new furniture and equipment for some City Hall offices while P1.3 million was allocated for the purchase and installation of electric posts at the newly renovated legislative building.
The mayor also wanted to set aside P1.2 million for city-sponsored activities, P1.1 million for maintenance and other operating expenses, and P700,000 for subsidies to the Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko Foundation and the Cebu Arts Council.
City Administrator Francisco Fernandez said renovation of Carbon Market’s unit 3 is a priority due to the condition of the market’s roofing over the fish section and the general condition of the building’s second floor.