Monday, November 26, 2007 Rama wants careless tent borrowers blacklisted
VICE Mayor Michael Rama wants the names of those who do not take care of Cebu City-owned collapsible tents they borrowed.
He told the City Council last week that anyone who wants to borrow the tents should promise in writing to take of care of these and return them on time.
“They are required to take care of the tents. Naay daghan paghulam puti ang tent, pag-uli itom na,” he said.
Many also borrow the tents and return it a year after.
One time, six tents that were used in a wake in Barangay Ermita were returned only last August after the City Market Authority removed squatters in Carbon Public Market’s Unit 2.
The City Council last week approved a P1.11-million allocation for 50 collapsible tents to be lent to constituents.
Funerals
Residents borrow the tents for funerals, weddings, fiestas and government activities.
The tents are also used as temporary shelter for evacuees during disasters.
Carillo asked for the allocation after Building Maintenance Service officer-in-charge John Paul Gelasque told him the City only has 30 tents left.
Demand
“This number isn’t enough to meet the public’s overwhelming demand especially during peak season, which forces us to deny some requests for this kind of service,” he said in a letter to the councilor last July.
The request already has prior approval from Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
City Councilor Arsenio Pacaña first told the City Council about the tents during its session last week.
“They think that if it is government property, they have no obligation to return it. The tendency of people is to abuse properties of the government,” he said.
“They should take care of the tents to prepare these for the next users. The tents reflect the kind of city we have,” he said. (RHM)
