PB approves P5.2-M supplemental budget for office, vans

A P5.2-MILLION supplemental budget was approved by the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) that will cover the salaries and other benefits of newly appointed officials as well as the acquisition of 10 meat vans.

Half of the amount will cover the salaries and other benefits of officials such as outgoing PB Member Carmen Durano-Meca who will head the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (Cpadao).

“The other half will go to buy 10 meat vans for 10 local governments. It is worth P275,000 each,” Provincial Budget Officer Danilo Rodas said.

Under SB 4, which was immediately approved by the PB in its regular session last Monday, about P1.55 million was appropriated for salaries and wages, allowances, cash gifts, a year-end bonuses and contributions for four new positions under the Cpadao for the second half of the year.

These positions include the Cpadao officer or department head, the assistant department head, and administrative officer, and a legal assistant.

This is based on Provincial Ordinance No. 2016-11 creating the Cpadao, that was approved this month.

Rodas said the office’s budget will be taken from the budget of the existing Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Commission (Cpadac) which will eventually become just a recommendatory body to the Cpadao.

Another P855,000 was also appropriated for the salaries and wages, allowances, cash gifts, year-end bonuses and contributions of two attorney IV positions which was covered also by a recently passed provincial ordinance.

The SB 4 also includes P125,000 for audio amplifiers and recorders and office fixtures for the Vice Governor’s Office.

The identified fund sources for SB 4 were taken from the P2.68-million savings for vacant positions this year and P151,590 from savings under SB 3 last year.

The P2.75-million budget for the meat vans were taken from a realignment under the capital outlay to the Capitol’s motor vehicle account.