Newsbriefs

Supplemental budget hearing today

ALL Cebu City Hall department heads are expected to attend this afternoon’s hearing for the Supplemental Budget  no. 2 worth P1.147 billion at the City Council session hall.

Cebu City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete said a big chunk of the budget goes to infrastructure and drainage projects as well as the renovation of the Carbon public market.

He said the city’s senior citizens will also be included in the budget.

The SB 2 also aims to increase our subsidy to the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) and the Cebu City Medical Center so their salaries won’t be delayed, Poblete said.

Poblete said the department heads will try to convince the council to allow the city government to procure a credit line to banks for the additional projects.  Correspondent Edison delos Angeles

Foreign  visitors in camotes

FOUR city mayors from Sri Lanka visited San Francisco town in Camotes Island, north Cebu, to learn about its “Purok System” last Aug. 25.

San Francisco  Vice Mayor Al Arquillano told Cebu Daily News  city mayors from Balangoda, Tangalle, Puttalam and Mannar said  they appreciated how solid waste management was being implemented in a household level.

“They said they don’t have segregation in their  cities,” Aquillano said, adding that the the four mayors are interested to adopt the “Purok System” in their places.

The  three-day study visit was part of the World Disaster Reduction Campaign “Making Cities Resilient: My City Is Getting Ready!” of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR).

The mayors also visited the island’s marine sanctuary and  tourist spots.

Other visitors from  Bangkok, Thailand and Cambodia are also expected in another trip.

The municipality of San Francisco was the recipient of  the 2011 United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction.   Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus

Talisay vendors gripe about  theft

VENDORS who remained at the closed Tabunok market in Talisay City complained that thieves stole their goods and belongings a day after the city government opened the Macapagal-Gullas market.

Vendors blamed  police officers for failing to respond to their calls of assistance.

Nora Carlos said some persons entered the Tabunok market and looted everything  they set their sights on.

Supt. Eddie Recamara, acting Talisay City police chief, said his  office didn’t receive any calls for assistance.

He said the vendors were  making this up to embarrass the police.

Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez said the city would still assist  Tabunok vendors who remained in the old market. Correspondent Gabriel C. Bonjoc