PROBE asks for P2.7 M budget for manpower, service vehicles

Cebu City Hall’s Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement (PROBE) team proposed a P2.7 million budget for additional job order personnel.

“Hopefully, kon dili babagan ang budget that is being sought of (if no one will go against the budget), then we could pursue our operation smoothly,” PROBE head Abel Diloy said on Wednesday.

He said that PROBE is undermanned and needs more manpower to help implement its program that includes removing obstructions and illegal structures along sidewalks.

Diloy said that they are also requesting for additional vehicles for use during operations.

PROBE currently has 23 staff including ten volunteers.

Meanwhile, Diloy said he gave a recommendation to the director of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) about the complaints received by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

In his letter, he recommended that instead of using the entrance point along B. Rodriguez Street, the hospital should move the entrance to a wider area.

Diloy explained that the long queue of people adds to the problem.

“If you remove their entrance, mawala na ang mga vendors diha. Ang mga maglinya, diha man mangaon gud (vendors will stop selling in the area once they move the entrance somewhere else. People who are lining up for services in the hospital usually buy from the vendors which adds more traffic),” he said.

Osmeña earlier announced that the vendors along B. Rodriguez would no longer be allowed to sell in the sidewalk after the Sinulog Festival in January next year.

For his part, Diloy said if he has his own way, he would give the vendors a workplace where they would be allowed to stay.

“A vacant lot, designated place sa gobyerno nga didto sila ibutang. Walay dakop (a designated area provided by the government where they can sell and need not be apprehended),” he said.