No new projects for Cebu City in 2016 budget

The Cebu City government has not included new projects in the budget proposal this year considering that next month is already July and the incoming administration of Mayor-elect Tomas Osmeña will already start preparing the 2017 budget.

The around P6 billion new proposed annual budget allocated for the city’s basic needs and South Road Properties loan payment will be presented by Acting Cebu City Mayor Margarita Osmeña to the council next week.

“We went through it yesterday together with the budget officer. And so, considering it’s already six months into the year so there are many capital outlay appropriations that will not be implemented anyway,” she said.

The new proposed budget covers mid-year bonus for the 5,000 city hall employees, salary differential (special accounts P15.8 million), terminal leave (P5 million), monetization (P1 million), city sponsored projects (P3 million), SRP loan payment (P390 million) and office furniture (P1 million).

Osmeña said that hopefully she can submit the budget Monday next week so it will be included in the council’s regular session on June 15.

Councilor James Anthony Cuenco raised concern during yesterday’s regular session on whether the council can decide on the annual budget even if there are only four members present since the 12 councilors were suspended along with Mayor Mike Rama and Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella.

The session was attended by Cuenco, acting Vice Mayor Lea Japson and Councilors Richard Osmeña and Philip Zafra.

Japson said they can still tackle the budget even if the session lacks quorum, especially that she is the vice chairman of Committee on Budget and Finance, with Osmeña as chairman.

Cuenco said they will consult the Department of Interior and Local Government whether the four-member council can approve a budget.