Newsbriefs

10 PB MEMBERS OFF TO US FOR DRUG WORKSHOP

TEN members of the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) have been cleared by Gov. Hilario Davide III to set off on a Capitol-funded trip to New York in the US next month for a week-long workshop on drug rehabilitation.

Davide granted the PB members authority to travel following the request of Carmen Durano-Meca, chairperson of the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Commission (CPADAC) last October 3 Among those who were authorized to travel were PB members Peter John Calderon, Jude Thaddeus Sybico, Julian Daan, Raul Alcoseba, Grecilda Sanchez, Joven Mondigo, Sun Shimura, Miguel Antonio Magpale, Arleigh Sitoy and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) ex-oficio member Aladin Caminero.

The Capitol will shoulder their travel expenses.

The registration fee for the workshop organized by Daytop International Inc., one of the oldest drug treatment service providers in the US, reportedly costs around 1,500 US dollars for each participant. /Correspondent Peter L. Romanillos

BRGYS ASKED TO SHELL OUT P10,000 TO COMELEC AS COUNCIL STALLS SB2

THE Cebu City Council yesterday approved a resolution asking the city’s 80 barangays to shell out P10,000 from each of their 2013 budgets for the mandatory contributions that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) requires for this month’s elections.

In a resolution sponsored by Councilor Michael Rallota, the barangay captain of T. Padilla and president of the Association of Barangay Councils, the council stated that the amount would be enough to comply with the Comelec requirement.

Mayor Michael Rama had included in the proposed supplemental budget a P14.7 million appropriation to help the Comelec. The amount is among the items in the P257 million Supplemental Budget 2 that he submitted to the council late Friday afternoon.

Councilor Margot Osmeña, head of the council’s budget committee, rendered a committee report in yesterday morning’s session setting a budget hearing at 2 p.m. on Monday. “While SB2 was certified as urgent by the executive department, this committee believes that a careful review of the budget is needed,” said Osmeña’s report. /Doris C. Bongcac And Edison Delos Angeles

JVR TO PRESENT 100-DAY REPORT CARD

TALISAY City Mayor Johnny V. De los Reyes will deliver an accomplishment report of his first 100 days in office as the city’s top official.

Vincie Monterde, public information officer of Talisay City, said they will have a short program at 4 p.m. today to inform the public of the services they have delivered so far.

Highlights will be the provision of jobs, medicines and the free use of ambulance, as well as the improvement in garbage collection and peace and order.

Asphalting projects were also done in major city roads and in the Talisay City Hall parking lot, while the City Government has given two patrol cars to the local police, four ambulance units to the medical response team and two garbage trucks for the solid waste maintenance team.

Just the other day, the mayor and Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante opened the new pharmacy for indigents. Also, the mayor has given the vendors freedom to sell their goods because the city is still waiting for money to fund the construction of a new public market building. /Correspondent Gabriel C. Bonjoc

MANDAUE’S BUDGET UP BY P550M

MANDAUE City Mayor Jonas Cortes proposed a budget of P2.28 billion for 2014, an increase of almost P550 million from this year’s P1.73 billion.

Lawyer James Abadia, the city administrator, said the bulk of the increase is for the purchase of heavy equipment for the Department of General Services and City Engineering’s Office.

“There’s a need for the city to procure heavy equipment in maintaining the road and drainage systems,” he said.

Under the proposed budget, the General Services Department will get P491 million and the City Engineering Office, P187 million.

Abadia said the city government will intensify tax mapping to increase the City’s revenues next year.

After securing approval from the local finance committee, the budget will be reviewed by the City Council. /Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos

PEJC MAY SUE DENR, DPWH

The Philippine Earth Justice Center (PEJC) may be filing cases against the Department of Enviroment and Natural Resources, and the Department of Public Works and Highways if they will push through with the cutting of century-old trees in Naga City.

PEJC wants to have an urgent meeting with Gov. Hilario Davide III, DENR Regional Director Isabelo Montejo and DPWH Regional Director Ador Canlas to discuss the special cutting of trees permit issued by DENR to DPWH.

Lawyer Rose Liza Osorio of PEJC said that although not all trees will be cut, DENR will still violate the climate change act and other environmental laws.

“We cannot discount the fact that the trees have great contribution to at least mitigate the effect of climate change,” Osorio said. /Correspondent Christine Emily L. Pantaleon

CREATE YOUTH COUNCILS

The head of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation (SKF) in Cebu City yesterday asked officials of the 80 barangays to create youth development councils that will lead the implementation of programs using their 10 percent youth development funds until new SK officials are elected.

Councilor John Philip Po, the city’s SKF president, said President Benigno Aquino III’s decision to postpone the SK election should not be made a reason to set aside youth oriented projects in the barangays.

He is also asking congress through Cebu City representatives Raul del Mar of the North District and Rodrigo Abellanosa of the South District to study the proposed SK Reform Bill.

“Majority of the population today belongs to the youth sector. It is then appropriate for proper representation, participation and involvement in local governance,” Po said in a privilege speech he delivered in yesterday’s council session. /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac