ALMOST half of the second supplemental budget submitted by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to the City Council last Friday will go to senior citizens.
The P233 million supplemental budget 2 (SB 2) will go to unfunded obligations of City Hall, with P108-million going to senior citizens. If approved, they will have an increase of P1,000 to their annual cash assistance of P6,000.
Rama is seeking passage of his SB2 amounting to P233 million to fund the increase in senior citizen assistance and to take care of the city’s other unfunded obligations.
SB 2 will be calendared for discussion in the next council session.
“We have prioritized the senior citizen assistance in SB 2. With the submission of the SB 2 we can already start with the preparation of the 2013 budget,” said Rama.
City budget officer Nelfa Briones said supplemental budgets are passed based on the urgency of the need and funding availability. These are in addition to the P5.3 billion annual budget.
Funding for SB 2 will come from the 2011 retaining operating surplus of P149.3 million, realignments of P41.2 million, Internal Revenue Allocation differential of P21.5 million and accounts payables of P20 million.
The SB 2 shall be allocated for senior citizens assistance amounting to P108.7 million; Cebu Integrated Traffic Operation Management geodetic improvements, P27 million; payables, P23.6 million; gas allocation, P20 million; and garbage collection program, P17 million.
It also includes appropriation for the city markets – P13 million; security services – P10.5 million; janitorial services – P0.7 million; subsidy to special accounts – P4.3 million; Ceby City Medical Center – P2.1 million and local disaster risk reduction and management fund – P1 million.
The P108 million budget proposed for senior citizens will already be in addition to the P300 million which is already in the 2012 budget.
Cebu City now has at least 50,000 registered senior citizens who are qualified to avail of funding assistance. The first tranche of senior citizens assistance amounting to P3, 000 was already released in June.
Another P3, 000 and the P1, 000 increase are set for release in December.
Meanwhile, honorarium of the medical consultants of the Cebu City Medical Center will also be increased.
CCMC increase
Legislators agreed during their July 18 session on the need to increase the honorarium of CCMC consultants especially those who are only getting P4, 000 to P6, 000 a month.
Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young also asked Councilor Ronald Cuenco to draft an ordinance raising CCMC consultants fee so that funding for this purpose can be included in the 2013 budget.
Rama views this proposal from the City Council as an indication that the plan of Cebu City south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña to close the city-owned hospital doesn’t have support even from the City Council. /Doris C. Bongcac, Chief of Reporters