Dictating on tax money
What does a partial budget veto by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama mean to ordinary city residents?
That’s the crunch question after the mayor complained about deep cuts and outright cancellation of his proposals of rhte 2012 budget of Cebu City.
Among the “lost causes” were drainage improvements, a program severely trimmed from half a billion pesos to P200 million pesos.
Also gone are outlays of P10 million to rehabilitate the Sewage Treatment Plant, P75 million for six development master plans, P50 million for firefighting equipment and fire stations, P150 million for the expansion of the Cebu City Medical Center, and P100 million for City Hall employee housing.
The main argument of the council, which closely follows the voice of party boss Tomas Osmeña, was that Rama couldn’t be relied on to find the revenue to hit his the ambitious budget targets.
We can see the logic of reining in nice-to-have projects like a P10 million pocket forest and beatification, where efforts are problably best in the hands of the private sector.
But other items beg priority action from City Hall.
How much longer, for example, do residents wait for a modern firefighting force in Cebu City? With over a a dozen condominiums and high-rise commercial buildings rising this year, the ashes of the Gaisano Capital South mall are a stark reminder that firemen are attacking infernos with 30-year-old firetrucks, no boots, and a dilapidated aerial ladder that only reaches the fifth floor.
The argument that fire stations belong to a national agency, hence are a “national” , not a local obligation, can go out the window when you look at street repair.
Potholes and dimly lit streets don’t wear signs that declare they should be repaired by a national versus a local crew. Voters can’t tell the difference.
You can bet the council will not debate over survival needs of urban residents to anticipate fire disasters and flooding in 2012.
The mayor, in his veto message, also gave himself away when he objected to having a P400 million fund for “aid to barangays” released directly to the barangays. He said it should be coursed through him.
Public services subject to power plays like this don’t augur well for oridnary citizens.
When the mayor’s veto is defeated, the reduced budget will show that Tommy Osmeña won his battle and put Rama in his place insofar as spending the city’s tax money.
Rama won’t have room to embark on high-impact projects that ease the problems of urban decay for residents and visitors alike. He’ll have to beg the council for a specific increase with each supplementary budget requested once a month.
