Thursday, April 05, 2007 P17.5M for infra works in barangays
BEFORE spending time off from work and the campaign trail, the Cebu City Council approved yesterday some P17.5 million worth of projects in the barangays.
The 38 programs of works and estimates (POWE) the council approved included the construction of a drainage system and restoration of asphalt pavement in Barangay Sambag I, which will cost the City some P11.1 million.
Other approved POWEs are those for the fabrication of culverts, concrete footpaths, concrete lined canals with cover, basketball courts and the cementing of sidewalks and roads in the barangays.
At the council session yesterday morning, Vice Mayor Michael Rama jokingly asked if the number of POWEs approved yesterday had anything to do with the elections.
Comelec approval
But a councilor said the resolutions were to be sponsored by Councilor Gabriel Leyson, who already left the council to start his campaign for the mayoral race in Talisay City.
Although some of the projects already have funding, City Administrator Francisco Fernandez said City Hall cannot implement them without approval from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
The Omnibus Election Code prohibits the construction of public works, delivery of materials for public works and the issuance of treasury warrants for a future undertaking chargeable against public funds during the campaign period.
Bidding, awarding
“Since the approved program of works is for infrastructure, we cannot start to implement it without clearance from Comelec because of the election ban,” Fernandez told Sun.Star Cebu.
From the City Council, the approved POWEs with funding will go to the bids and awards committee for the bidding and awarding of contracts to the winning bidder.
Councilor Sylvan Jako-salem, one of the proponents of the resolutions on the approval of the POWEs, said Leyson’s resolutions for projects in the north district were given to him.
He sought the council’s approval of eight POWEs for projects in the barangays amounting to P16,247,463.
Those for the south district were given to Councilor Gerardo Carillo, who proposed 21 resolutions for the approval of POWEs amounting to P847,811.
Councilor Eugenio Faelnar also sought the approval of four POWEs amounting to P331,000 while Councilor Arsenio Pacaña asked for the approval of five POWEs for projects amounting to P92,771.
Among those that were approved is the POWE for the proposed fabrication of footpath, culvert and canal cover at the casting division of the Department of Engineering and Public Works worth P2 million.
Some P1.2 million will be also spent for the construction of a concrete lined canal with cover in Sitio Son-oc in Barangay Lahug. (LCR)
