Rama wants city engineer to explain project delays

THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Cebu City told City Hall to have their departments coordinate with each other to avoid delays in projects.

Mayor Michael Rama directed City Engineer Kenneth Enriquez to explain why there were projects, particularly those under the Annual Investment Plan (AIP), that have yet to be implemented.

But Enriquez questioned the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) why there were amendments in some projects under the AIP.

These projects were endorsed yesterday before the Cebu City Development Council (CCDC) with the explanation that the projects were amended to reconcile with the projects approved under the city ordinance bearing the budget for the AIP.

“We are puzzled by the system and procedures we are adopting. The CPDO and the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) should meet and finalize projects, plan properly and then come back to us,” said DILG Cebu City Director Patricio Gabuya during the CCDC meeting yesterday.

Councilor Margarita Osmeña said the AIP and the city ordinance did not coincide because the AIP 2012 was submitted late.

The amendment was merely on the specific location and amount.

But Busay Barangay Captain Eliodoro Sanchez raised a concern in behalf of all village chiefs, who propose projects to be considered in the AIP funded by the local development fund.

“I noticed that if the Council does not like the project they change it. Once the AIP is approved they should just follow the endorsed project. If possible, don’t change it,” said Sanchez.

“We understand that CCDC is the way of putting barangay projects but we can assure you that we will keep it that way,” said Osmeña, explaining that the council does not change projects under the AIP.

If there were amendments, these did not come from the Council.

Lump sum

In the previous AIP, only the project with lump sum appropriation was indicated.

Enriquez said the program of works and estimates (Powe) were based on the projects under the city ordinance.

These were ready by February but were returned in May because the projects under the city ordinance and the AIP did not match.

The projects have to be specified.

Then there was another snag on the part of the CPDO with the budget officer refusing to sign the approved budget of the contract (ABC) without endorsement from the CCDC.

Since the projects were already endorsed yesterday, Enriquez is optimistic that some projects will be implemented within the year.

With the signing of the ABC, the advertisement for bidding can proceed. This and the bidding could take a total of one month.

Some projects could start by December.

Enriquez noted there was no need to amend the AIP. In cases of lump sum appropriations, specific projects only need to be returned to the council for
approval.

Enriquez and Councilor Jose Daluz III agreed that the budget office should have signed the ABC.

Anyway, said Daluz, an AIP is just a framework of projects that the mayor and barangay captains agreed on.