Council not keen to spend P.49M for ‘disaster suits’

HIS peers in the Cebu City Council are not keen on spending almost half a million pesos to buy waterproof and heat-resistant  “disaster suits”   for each of the legislators.

This is no longer “a priority,” said Councilor Noel Wenceslao, who sponsored the resolution for the purchase in the council session last Sept. 14.

The resolution to spend P490,485 to outfit the vice mayor and 18 councilors with a body suit, fireman’s boots and helmet was   deferred last Friday.

“I will have to consult other councilors first if they want the suit,” Wenceslao  said after they showed  lukewarm or no interest to the plan.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said the amount could instead be used  to buy new  laptop computers  for Councilors Michael Rallota, Ronald Cuenco, Edgar Labella, Sisinio Andales and Jose Daluz II

Councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa said in the Sept. 14 session that the money would be “put to better use” by the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation.

Wenceslao, in his proposal,  suggested two packages.

He said the first set supplied by  BTC Sports World Enterprises costs P25,789.47 and consists of a fireman’s coat worth P15,416.47, boots worth P2,849, a helmet with shield amounting to P5,544 and fireman’s gloves worth P1,980.

The second set has a locally sourced fireman’s coat worth P11,627, boots, worth P2,849, a fireman’s helmet with shield,  P5,544; and fireman’s gloves worth P1,980. Chief of Reporters Doris Bongcac