Cebu City budget panel to report on SB2

THE Cebu City Council’s budget committee will present its committee report on the P256.8 million supplemental budget (SB) 2 being pushed by Mayor Michael Rama in its regular session tomorrow.

The proposed SB2 includes the P14. 7 million allocation needed by the 80 barangays to pay for their election contributions to Commission on Elections (Comelec) on or before the October 18 deadline.

The Cebu City Council held a special session yesterday to discuss the draft SB 2.

Councilor James Cuenco moved to refer it to the budget committee for a hearing since the budget was certified “urgent” by Rama.

“But we are still not ready without our questions. We need time to look at it (SB2). This is after all P256 million. We have to revalidate, verify on the sources of revenues,” Councilor and budget committee chairperson Margot Osmeña said.

Aside from the allocation to Comelec, P62 million is also included in the SB2 for the payment of subsidies and allowances to judges, fiscals and law enforcers assigned in the city.

Another P25 million will pay for the terminal leave benefits of City Hall employees.

The Government Services Office is asking P10 million for additional gasoline purchase and another P5 million for motor vehicle supplies and materials.

Rama sent a copy of his draft SB2 to the City Council secretariat at 4:27 p.m. last Friday and requested for a special session yesterday to start budget discussions.

Osmeña said a copy of the SB2 was sent to her office past 5 p.m. last Friday.

She had it sent to her Guadalupe home so she can review it last week.

But other councilors only received their copies of the proposed SB 2 yesterday morning. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac