The Cebu City Council yesterday questioned the sources of funds for the executive department’s proposed P325 million supplemental budget 1 (SB1) for this year.
During a budget hearing, the local finance committee pushed for a P325 million SB1, the bulk of which is appropriated for the construction of a new Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC).
Acting City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas sourced the funds through realignment from continuing appropriations in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
For the CCMC construction alone, the fund sources identified were from budget allocations for this year.
Of the P300 million, P20 million will be taken from the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) budget, P80 million for the purchase of lots for river improvement and P200 million from the city’s drainage projects.
But the council questioned why the committee had to realign the budget allocations when they “fought hard” for it to be appropriated.
Mayor Michael Rama’s executive assistant Jose Daluz III said this will be replaced within the year.
“The situation of the CCMC is a continuing public calamity and must be given priority. The realignments can be replenished within the year through another supplemental budget,” he said.
The finance committee cited section 321 of the Local Government Code which states that “a supplemental budget may also be enacted in times of public calamity by way of budgetary realignment.”
The city’s CCMC ad hoc committee also briefly announced that the new CCMC will be a 10-storey building. They will present the plan in the council’s regular session today.