P200M-loan eyed for heavy equipment

The Cebu provincial government is planning to apply for a P200-million loan next year to  buy  heavy equipment  for building and maintaining barangay and provincial roads.

On Monday,  the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) will hold  a special session to take up a resolution authorizing the governor to “undertake appropriate negotiations and enter into agreement with competent financial institutions that offer the best possible terms to the provincial government” for the acquisition of new heavy equipment.

Earlier, Davide said the province is scouting for the “best banking institution that will give the best terms.”

The Capitol plans to purchase backhoes, bulldozers, rollers and other heavy equipment.

Provincial Treasurer Emmanuel Guial said the province has “enough cash” but  cannot afford to make a large one-time payment for the equipment.

“Our cash right now is already appropriated for other purposes. We can afford it  but how about our other needs,” explained Guial.

A P110 million outlay is earmarked for the purpose in the province’s P462-million Annual Investment Plan (AIP).

Like last year, more than half of the amount or P246 million of the development fund will be used for infrastructure projects such as roads and bridges.

Looking ahead, Davide said the province will continue to work on road-right-of-way issues in the Tayud, Consolacion and Tayud, Liloan road that connects the P2.4-billion Cansaga Bridge. The road is designed to decongest the Cebu North Road.

Negotiations, he said, are still pending since some residents turned down the amount offered by the government for the acquisition of their lots.

Hospital upgrade

Meanwhile, the province aims to  upgrade the accreditation of its hospitals by providing more equipment and manpower.

Next year, P409 million has been set for the Davide administration’s health programs.

Almost three-fourths of it or P279 million will be spent to support provincial and district hospitals in the province.

The rest will be used to upgrade hospital services including major surgical procedures.

Davide said they plan to acquire more medical equipment such as dialysis machines and X-ray machines as well as hire additional doctors and surgeons as consultants.

“We will continue our health program. That has always been our priority and third food security and agriculture. All these projects are geared towards accomplishing our six-star agenda,” he said.