Tuesday, November 13, 2007
P15M donation to City Hall stalled by unliquidated fund
A FINANCIAL assistance of more than P260,000 that remained unliquidated for 12 years has delayed the release of a P15-million donation to the Cebu City Government.
The P15 million is to be used for the furniture and fixtures of the legislative building, which is being renovated, and the sprucing up and landscaping of the Rizal Park.
Vice Mayor Michael Rama said that while he whooped it up after receiving a text message from Department of Tourism Undersecretary Phineas Alburo that the amount from the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) is ready for release, his joy was short-lived.
Never used
Alburo, he said, called him on the unliquidated amount, which was intended for the City Parks and Playgrounds Commission.
He was told that P260,000 donated to the City by the PTA remained unaccounted for so the P15 million cannot be released yet.
Rama said he was told that the amount was never used so all that needs to be done is for the City Accounting Office to issue a certification attesting to this.
He first sent a letter to President Arroyo asking for P20 million for the legislative building, after the City spent P64 million for the renovation.
But when he checked with Malacañang, he said he was told that the letter could no longer be traced, so he sent another letter last March.
The second letter asked for P10 million for the Rizal Park landscaping.
But, he said, he received a text message from Alburo last Oct. 5 that although his request for P20 million was not granted, Arroyo ordered the release of P15 million.
3 tranches
Of the amount, P10 million is for the Rizal Park while the P5 million is for the legislative building. Rama said they could use the P5 million in buying furniture and other fixtures.
Alburo told him that that P15 million will be sent in three tranches, the first within a week after the text message.
Rama said that did not push through because of the unliquidated amount.
Yesterday, he gave reporters a short guided tour of the ground floor of the legislative building, which Dakay Construction and Development Corp. said will be ready for occupancy by Nov. 23. (RHM)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (November 11, 2007 issue)
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