THE proposed purchase of 10 new coasters in the amount of P45 million under the mayor’s office has been questioned.
Its budget will be included in the P985-million fourth supplemental budget (SB 4), which the City Council started deliberating on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020.
Joan Quiñanola of the mayor’s office said the vehicles will be used to ferry commuters.
“These 10 coasters will augment the need of our riding public,” she told the council during the special session on Friday.
She said that even with the return of traditional public utility jeepneys (TPUJ), not all routes in different barangays are served.
However, members of the council opposition expressed their reservation on the matter.
Ex-officio Councilor Franklyn Ong, president of the Association of Barangay Council and Kasambagan barangay captain, said the executive department should shop around for a better deal.
Ong suggested buying modern public utility buses, which currently ply the city’s streets, as these only cost P2.5 million each as opposed to the P4.5 million estimated by the executive department.
Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr. said the City should instead ask public utility vehicle operators to deploy more units so the City wouldn’t have to buy new vehicles.
And even if the City proceeds with the purchase, it will have to consider additional expenses like vehicle maintenance, gas and the salary of drivers, said Councilor Alvin Dizon.
He said the executive department should check out the Kaoshiung buses instead.
Councilor Lea Japson, for her part, said the money should be used to augment the City’s budget for livelihood programs. That way, many people will benefit, considering many have lost their jobs since the coronavirus pandemic began, she said.
Meanwhile, Councilor James Anthony Cuenco, who belongs to the party of the city administration, said the reason only a few TPUJs are on the streets is because many units failed the inspection.
On Friday, City Budget Officer Mayette Gumia presented before the council the proposed expenditures for SB 4, including coronavirus disease 2019 hazard pay for City Hall employees and barangay workers amounting to P171 million; packed meals and rice for frontliners amounting to P165 million; and opening of new roads amounting to P150 million, among others.
Gumia said the funds will come from savings from personnel services amounting to P114 million; unutilized trust fund and local dream fund amounting to P100 million; maintenance of other operating expenses in the account of the South Road Properties loan payment balance amounting to P36 million; returned financial assistance from six barangays amounting to P23 million; retained operating surplus of the City Market Operations amounting to P3 million; and the realignment of unused appropriation for lot acquisition and site development amounting to P707 million.
The council will continue the budget hearing for the SB 4 on Monday, Dec. 14. (JJL)