THE Cebu City Government has saved over P300 million from its 2020 annual budget, according to the review done by the City officials.

City Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia, committee on budget and finance chairman, said the programs and events that did not push through because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) crisis contributed much to the City’s savings.

The savings came from Cebu City Hall’s 27 departments.

Garcia said the savings may be realigned to augment the City’s budget for its Covid-19 crisis response.

The budget realignment, though, is still subject to the executive department’s decision. An ordinance is also needed for the savings to be realigned to the City’s Covid-19 efforts.

Garcia had yet to provide specific details of the City’s savings as of this writing.

Urgent

Vice Mayor Michael Rama, in an online regular session on Aug. 12, 2020, said the City must spend only on urgent and important projects and programs.

Rama said infrastructure projects that are not urgent and necessary must be postponed, further saying that the most important project right now is the new Cebu City Medical Center building, which is still under construction.

Councilor Alvin Dizon agreed with Rama, saying health care facilities in the city must be of utmost priority. (JJL)