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Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Calamity funds for flooded school, stalled
By Linette C. Ramos
CEBU CITY -- Almost three months after the Cebu City council declared a state of calamity and approved the use of P37.5 million for rehabilitation, school children have yet to get their school supplies and some damaged infrastructure still have to be fixed.
Councilor Gerardo Carillo admitted there have been delays in the purchases and road repair work because the council was not aware of some budgetary procedures.
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Students of Baksan Elementary School in Barangay Sapangdaku have yet to get the replacement for their damaged school supplies and computers. The school also still has to be rehabilitated, said the councilor.
City Hall still has to reappropriate some P19.5 million for the construction of dams, footbridges and the rehabilitation of roads, which was approved when the council declared a state of calamity and preparedness last November 20 after tropical storm Lando hit Cebu.
The purchase of reconditioned heavy equipment worth P18 million also have yet to be bidded out.
Accounting
City Administrator Francisco Fernandez said yesterday that the purchase of some materials was delayed because the bidding was overtaken by the closing of the City's book of accounts.
"Appropriations charged to capital outlay are considered continuing appropriations so that even if the actual purchase is overtaken by the closing of the books, the funds may still be used," he said.
On the other hand, appropriations charged to maintenance and other operating expenditures (MOOE) will have to be used before the book of accounts are closed at the end of the fiscal year. Otherwise, the council has to pass another ordinance to appropriate for the amount again.
Carillo said the equipment purchase was charged to capital outlay but some hitches with the accounting procedures delayed it.
"Sometimes we can't avoid running into problems with the accounting. But this is a learning experience for all of us in the council. I did not know that if the purchase is classified as MOOE, we can no longer use the money intended for it once the books are closed," he told Sun.Star Cebu.
'Preparedness'
In their session Wednesday, the council will tackle Carillo's proposed resolution declaring "a continuing state of disaster preparedness in Cebu City in order to respond to calamities and that the calamity funds be used for disaster response and rehabilitation efforts."
Carillo did not seek to appropriate any amount yet but he said the resolution will allow them to tap the calamity funds for the approved purchases after the storm last year.
Among the approved items is the P550,000 for materials needed to reinforce the walls and a riprap for Baksan Elementary School, which was flooded during the storm.
The City also pledged to replace the students' school supplies, bags, books and instructional materials, including computers, which were damaged that time.
Other items that need reappropriation are five sets of mud pumps with generator sets amounting to P1.8 million and 10 chainsaws for P550,000.
Another P5 million is needed for the rehabilitation of damaged schools, relief operations and mobilization of personnel and vehicles.
At least P7 million was also allocated at that time for the construction of dams that will control the flow of rainwater to avoid flooding, P1.5 million for the rehabilitation and construction of footbridges and another P1.5 million for the riprap of eroded portions of the Guadalupe river.
These items also need to be covered by a new ordinance for appropriation, Councilor Nestor Archival said. (Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cebu. (February 5, 2008 issue)
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