Mayor: Bring back my budget

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday said he was determined to restore more than P3 billion for projects in the city’s annual budget which were cut by opponents in the City Council.

“I will bring it back,” he declared, saying outlays for priorities like flood control, firefighting equipment, urban planning and improved response to disasters should be placed in the 2014 annual budget to be submitted in mid-October.

He said these priorities should not be held back by a “tyranny of the majority” in the council.

His handful of allies will have to fight off a repeat of budget slashes where Rama said his wish list of P3.5 billion last year was reduced to P500,000.

Rama discussed his priorities in a gathering of columnists and editors invited to a “Meet with Media Leaders” at the Rizal Library on the eve of his 100 days in office.

The mayor said his marching orders to City Hall department heads was to resubmit and defend proposals he’s been pushing since 2011: “Bring back all of this budget.”

Among the budget items left out last year were:

-P50 million for new firetrucks and firefighting gear

-P50 million for rescue boats

-P20 million for new police vehicles

-P150 million for expansion of the Cebu City Medical Center

– P75 million for four new master plans

“I am absolutely worried because right now, we are not prepared for big floods in the city,” Rama said.

He said every night he prays it won’t rain hard, especially in the mountains where runoff water can cause a flash flood in the lowlands.

Faced with criticism that his administration had cash flow problems and no clear revenue sources for ambitious plans, Rama pointed to the city’s real estate assets.

“We have so many properties to sell… If there is no corruption, if we can sell SRP lots, Block 27 in the North Reclamation Area, waterfront properties. Cebu City will be rich,” Rama said.

“This is all M-O-N-E-Y – money!” he emphasized.

HEMORRHAGING

In a separate press conference, former mayor and former congressman Tomas Osmeña, whose group dominates the City Council, repeated his accusation that Rama has mishandled fiscal matters and left the city’s coffers with only P1 billion cash and several unpaid oblgiations.

“This (city) is hemorrhaging,” Osmena told reporters.

He gave Rama, a failing grade of “40 percent” in his first 100 days of his reelected term.

Osmeña pointed out that when he left City Hall at the end of his term in June 30, 2012, there was P2.2 billion cash on hand while today there are delays in the release of monthly allowances for senior citizens, judges and quarterly assistance for the barangay officials in 80 barangays.

“Rama is saying that we have to sell the SRP because we have projects to implement. That’s wrong. He wants to sell the SRP in order to deodorize his mismanagement of the city,” said the mayor’s harshest critic.

Mayor Rama said he anticipates a difficult time with the City Council, which is dominated by the Bando Osmena-Pundok Kauswagan.

“I am not assuring that this is a controllable, manageable situation,” he said.

Asked how he would get his budget passed, Rama indicated he was counting on public pressure “through you”.

“The BO-PK is not the government. City residents will help me pass the budget. This is not just my administration, this is your administration and together, we will (make it succeed),” the mayor said.

“I don’t want any comparisons. We have our own vision, platform and management style… my administration is committed to making Cebu City livable for our people, to institute private-sector driven programs,” Rama said.

He said contrary to his critics’ view of City Hall finances, Cebu city has funds and properties to fund special projects aside from the local tax collections and the city’s share in the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).

“Right now, you can ask City Treasurer (Diwa Cuevas). The city has P1.7 billion cash. There was never any delay in our payments for the SRP loan which amounted to nearly P2 billion…we aren’t updated in receiving the city’s share (of profits),” the mayor said.

In yesterday’s forum, Rama said he would press on with removing occupants from danger zones by the Mahiga Creek, installing security cameras in schools and business establishments, and the conversion of the Inayawan landfill into a commercial area.

More than 5,000 households are living by rivers and esteros in Cebu City.