Cebu City project funding at P222.6 M

Cebu City will only have P222.6 million in its Local Development Fund (LDF) to finance projects worth P5 million and less in 30 of the city’s 80 barangays.

In yesterday’s press conference, Engr. Oscar Abordo of the City Planning and Development Office said P701 million worth of projects proposed by the other 50 barangays may still be implemented this year.

The projects can be funded by supplemental appropriations, he said.

“The barangays can also use the financial assistance (of at least P6 million that they are getting) from the city to fund their development projects,” Abordo added.

A third option, he said, is to include the unfunded development projects in the 2014 Annual Investment Plan (AIP).

The CPDO consolidated P923.6 million worth of development projects proposed by different barangays in the 2013 LDF.

But these projects weren’t immediately approved by the City Development Council (CDC).

The City Council opted to approve a lump sum appropriation of P222.6 million as LDF.

The council tapped 20 percent of the city’s P1.2 billion Internal Revenue Share (IRA) for this purpose in order to expedite the approval of the city’s 2013 budget worth P5.2 billion.

Councilor Margot Osmeña, the council’s budget committee chairperson, earlier said the council couldn’t include the P923.6 million worth of projects proposed under the 2013 AIP until it’s approved by the CDC chaired by Mayor Michael Rama.

Abordo told reporters that as a procedure, barangays are required to submit three priority projects focused on environment, social, and economic developments for inclusion in the AIP of the succeeding year every June 27 of each year.

Only upon CDC approval can the council also approve and incorporate in the annual budget the LDF identified to fund the AIP of the succeeding year.

But Abordo said majority of the 80 barangays failed to meet the June 27 deadline while the other barangays lacked documentation for their projects. The CDC also failed to meet on time to pass the AIP.

Passage of the AIP is scheduled before the October 16 deadline for the submission of the executive department’s budget request for the succeeding year. Abordo said the city’s 2013 AIP will be discussed in the Feb. 1 CDC meeting.

Abordo said their venue, the city hall legislative building was used for meetings on last Nov. 30’s Thanksgiving Mass of San Pedro Calungsod.

Among those whose projects will be financed were barangays Adlaon, Agsungot, Banilad, Bacayan, Basak San Nicolas, Binaliw, Budlaan, Busay, Capitol Site, Pahina Central, Pahina San Nicolas, Pit-os, Sudlon I and II, Tabunan and Talamban.