Public works dept. fails to convince council to approve P3.6-B budget

THEY lined up their figures and presented their projects in yesterday’s City Council budget hearing.

But the Cebu City Hall’s Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) failed to convince the council to approve their P3.6-billion budget for next year.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said DEPW Chief Kenneth Enriquez was unable to answer their questions on why the programs of works and estimates for other projects remain pending until this year.

He said her discussion was futile since they failed to identify revenue sources for their budget.

“What’s the point of discussing  this when there is no money? It’s all just a waste of time,” Young said.

The vice mayor challenged the DEPW to implement all POWEs first before pursuing other projects.

Budget committee chairperson Margot Osmeña agreed, saying the budget is too big.

She cited the biggest item,  the construction of new drainage systems to the tune of P500 million.

“We all know that we need the drainage system. Maybe we even need more than P500 million. But there are things they cannot answer like where the funds will come from,” she said.

Among the projects proposed by the DEPW  next year are the expansion of Cebu City Medical Center worth P150 million, construction of buildings for various offices costing P150 million and river slope protection measures in various barangays at P100 million.

Also included were the Carbon market building improvement priced at P100 million and construction of warehouses and other infrastructure at P70 million. Correspondent Edison delos Angeles