Mics unfazed by budget slash

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

THE revenue generating offices in Cebu City Hall will be the priority of the computerization program of the Management Information and Computer Services (Mics) after the City Council slashed their budget for this year.

Mics chief Conrado Ordesta III said they proposed a P45-million capital outlay, but the City Council only approved P4.5 million.

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Ordesta said they also asked for P2.3 million for training expenses but the City Council disapproved it and so with their furniture outlay.

He planned to install wifi connections for City Hall, rehabilitate the existing network cabling and buy new equipment, such as a private automatic business exchange (PABX), among others.

But because of the budget cut, Ordesta said they have to prioritize the most important projects and programs in their office.

He said they will look for ways and adopt the private-public partnership (PPP) concept of Mayor Michael Rama to realize their projects and programs.

“It can be implemented but with some delay due to the budget cut.  We will try to negotiate with some private entities to realize our program,” Ordesta said.

He said they will implement in a month or two the newly developed information systems, particularly for the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO).

Ordesta said even the issuance of the community tax certificate (cedula) in the CTO will soon be computerized.

Ordesta said they want the CTO’s tax collection to be more efficient this year especially in miscellaneous fees to help hit its target of P5.2 billion.

He said they also developed new systems for the Office of the Building Official (OBO) and General Services Office (GSO).

It also enhanced the systems in the Office of the City Civil Registrar (OCCR), Human Resource Development Office (HRDO) and the accounting office to fast track their transactions and reports.

Ordesta said they also provided computer technical services, network management and administration to City Hall offices.

In the area of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Ordesta said they sell maps and give these to the barangays and other government offices upon requests.

Mics’ mainstream projects include the inventory of Cebu City streetlights and the delineation, tagging and mapping of structures affected by the implementation of the City’s river three-meter easement restoration.

Ordesta assumed his post last month after the former Mics chief William Cris Artajo was relieved for his allegedly lackluster performance.