Rama asks P600M supplemental budget for aid

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama asked the City Council to approve his P600 million supplemental budget 2 to fund the allocation of assistance to the city’s 80 barangays and implementation of infrastructure projects and activities.

Cebu City’s 80 barangays would each receive at least P2 million from the P211 million set aside as assistance to them in SB2, Rama said.

Barangays Pasil, Inayawan, Sambag 2, Apas, Kalunasan, Sta. Cruz and Cogon Pardo will also receive another P1.2 million for allowances to their lupong tagapamayapa and garbage collectors.

SB2 was among the items included in the agenda of yesterday’s City Council session.

It was referred to the council’s budget committee chaired by Councilor Margot Osmeña for review.

Unclaimed assistance

The supplemental appropriation is broken down into general funds worth P501 million and special accounts worth P162.9 million.

It will be funded from the unappropriated balance of this year’s budget worth P257.5 million and last year’s retained operating surplus worth P211.3 million among others.

Aside from barangay assistance, the bulk of SB 2 will also be spent for the city’s garbage collection and disposal program worth P56 million, the asphalting of roads at P30 million, improvement of traffic system in various city roads at P27 million and improvement of the city’s street lighting program at P10 million.

Cebu City’s 2014 budget doesn’t include aid to barangays because of still unclaimed cash assistance from last year’s budget.

In his SB2, Rama also asked for additional appropriation for city sponsored activities worth P20 million, burial assistance at P15 million and motor vehicle outlay worth P15 million.