CEBU City’s executive department has submitted a proposal of P716.5 million as its first supplemental budget (SB 1) for this year, the biggest cut of which goes to garbage disposal.
The Department of Public Services (DPS) proposed some P214.3 million as an additional budget for this year. Of the amount, P151.2 million will cover the additional fund for garbage hauling while P56.3 million will be for rental of heavy equipment.
In an interview, DPS assistant department head John Paul Gelasque said P151.2 million will cover the hauling of garbage until Dec. 31.
“That’s the amount that we need until the end of the year, based on our estimates. We are hopeful that the entire amount will be approved,” he told SunStar Cebu.
Under the annual budget this year, DPS has an approved budget of P121 million for garbage disposal and salary of some of its job-order workers.
The budget covered the expenses incurred in the hauling of garbage from January to April.
DPS has also used its P12-million reserve fund for the garbage hauling fee that covered some of the days of April until May 16.
But even with the two allocations, the department’s budget was still depleted, prompting them to realign the budget for rental of heavy equipment to garbage collection worth P40 million for June until the first few days of July.
Right now, the DPS plans to use P28.9 million under the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) funds for the hauling of the city’s trash this month while waiting for the approval of SB 1.
Gelasque said it will be up to the bids and awards committee to determine if the garbage hauling service of the city this month will have to undergo emergency procurement or contract extension.
If SB 1 will be approved, the City will have around P353.1 million for garbage hauling.
Aside from this, Gelasque said they also proposed P56.3 million for the rental of compactor trucks, which will be used to collect garbage in several barangays.
“The mayor is planning to expand the Basura Mo, Sardinas Ko program in other barangays, that’s why we need more compactor trucks,” he said.
The Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW), for its part, has submitted a total of P131.7 million under SB 1, the bulk of which goes to the facelifting of the Industrial Road-Landfill Road,at P72 million.
Engr. Josefa Ylanan said the road has to be concreted or asphalted, depending on the budget that will be approved, since it can be used as an alternative access road to the South Road Properties.
The DEPW has also proposed P35 million for the paving and retreading of various city streets.
Other items in the SB 1 proposal include P80 million for the second tranche of the City’s compliance with the salary standardization law, P69 million for the Department of Social Welfare and Services, and P63 million for the Cebu City Medical Center.
The City Budget Office has submit the proposed SB 1 to the secretariat of the City Council last week. However, the legislative body may not tackle it at the moment until they can elect the heads of different committees. (RVC)