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Thursday, December 29, 2005
Cebu gov't to spend millions amid austerity call
CEBU CITY -- Lawmakers in Cebu City and Province spent the waning days of the year approving plans to spend millions on personnel and operations.
The Cebu Provincial Board (PB) squeezed into their holiday break the approval of the P19-million supplemental budget for the 14th month bonus of Capitol workers and officials.
For its part, the Cebu City Council wants to spend P10 million in casino funds on a new computer server to improve its revenue collections.
The last-minute spending decisions suggest that these two local governments feel confident enough about revenue prospects this year and next, that they believe the City and Province could afford such big-ticket items.
Twelve members of the PB and Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr., their presiding officer, gathered in a special session Wednesday, a day before the last working day of the year for government employees.
PB Members Carmiano Kintanar, Gabriel Luis Quisumbing, and Estrella Yapha did not make it, but a quorum was established.
In the absence of Quisumbing, who is out of the country, PB Member Victor Maambong, vice chairman of the committee on budget and appropriations, presented the allocation of P19,110,000 for the bonuses.
The allocation was approved on first, second, and final reading.
Donation
Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has said she initially thought of not granting the bonus because of what she considered mindless statements from some workers about the expenses for fireworks earlier this month.
But Garcia said she has to set aside personal frustrations and disappointments "for the greater majority."
To avoid possible criticisms, she also donated her 14th month pay to the association of Capitol workers.
This is because for the first time, the Provincial Government is not giving an across-the-board extra cash gift, but one month's pay.
The scheme Garcia chose would give her the most benefit, considering that she has the highest salary at the Capitol.
Garcia disclosed that some Capitol officials asked if they should also donate their bonus, but the governor assured them that her case is different because she was the one who made the decision, and would have to give the bonus away out of delicadeza.
Pagcor funds
The Cebu City Council, meanwhile, authorized the executive department to charge the P10 million against the City's share from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor).
However, the City has to get Pagcor's exemption to use the funds to buy office equipment, supplies, and materials.
Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera said Pagcor guidelines in disbursement of funds only cover projects that involve a direct social component, like health or livelihood projects for the poor.
Attached to Pesquera's resolution are the separate letter-requests dated December 8 of Acting City Treasurer Tessie Camarillo to Mayor Tomas Osmeña and to the City Council for appropriation of P19.56 million worth of office supplies, equipment, and fixtures.
Other materials requested for purchase are P6 million worth of business tax payment plates, P2 million worth of accountable forms, 10 tables and 300 chairs, P174,000 worth of stickers for weights and measures, and for the construction of a ticket booth worth P11,600 at the One Citilink Terminal.
Also attached is another letter dated December 8 of Osmeña, requesting Pagcor Chairman Efrain Genuino for the exemption. (JPM/GAC/Sun.Star Cebu/Sunnex)
(December 29, 2005 issue)
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