THE budget committee of the Cebu City Council will deliberate the P2.5 billion second supplemental budget (SB2) on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019.
Of the amount, P2 billion is appropriated for the construction of a wastewater treatment facility and bridges, the asphalting of roads and the purchase of supplies and materials for plant nurseries, among others, under the City Agriculture Department, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries, Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office, Department of Engineering and Public Works and the tourism office.
The Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) is allocated P300 million for the upgrading of the traffic system and pedestrian railings.
The CCTO had requested P500 million to modernize the city’s traffic lights.
Last Aug. 13, heavy traffic occurred in 14 major intersections after the digital board that dealt with the synchronization of traffic lights bogged down for seven hours.
The Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System has been in use for the last 30 years.
Some P80 million is also allocated for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWD) to cover their financial assistance from July to December.
The PWDs and senior citizens have not received their allowances for the last two months since the previous administration did not allocate a budget for the rest of the year.
The City will source the P2.5 billion from the payment of the SM-Ayala Consortium in 2015 for the purchase of 26 hectares of a 45.2-hectare combined area sold at the South Road Properties.
Mayor Edgardo Labella said the payment can already be used as source of revenue after the consortium withdrew the consignation of its payment from the court.
City Councilor Nestor Archival, though, has suggested looking for another source of funds for the SB2. (JJL)