News Briefs

Drainage, classrooms a priority–Cortes

MANDAUE City Hall will prioritize construction of drainage systems and classrooms in the city to resolve the flooding problems encountered in the city.

During last Saturday’s “Mandaue Stormwater Management Seminar-Workshop” Mayor Jonas Cortes said drainage and classroom shortage are being prioritized over other projects like a proposed government center.

The summit attended by barangay officials, representatives of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and developers is aimed at reviewing and revising Mandaue City’s drainage master plan.

Earlier, Rep. Gabriel Luis Quisumbing of Cebu’s 6th District said the DPWH will implement a P45 million drainage project to cover A.S. Fortuna street and Hernan Cortes street in barangay Banilad.

He said the drainage project won’t overlap with existing programs by the city government  and will reduce congestion in the area considered a major thoroughfare. Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza

Task force open to Ombud inquiry

THE Task Force Ellah Joy is open to an Ombudsman-Visayas investigation into the alleged mole within their ranks that’s supposedly used by homicide suspect Bella Ruby Santos to escape arrest.

Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador Jr., Cebu provincial police chief and spokesman of Task Force Ella Joy, said their search for Bella won’t be affected by the investigation into the case.

The Ombudsman-Visayas said they are verifying a claim by Renante Pique, father of slain kidnap victim Ellah Joy Pique, that an agent of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Central Visayas (CIDG-7) received P20,000 a month from Bella. /Correspondent Gabriel C. Bonjoc

Cebu courts lament budget reduction

CEBU judges and court employees joined their counterparts nationwide in ventilating their disappointment over the Aquino administration’s plan to reduce the budget for the judiciary in next year’s budget.

In an interview, Regional Trial Court Judge Meinardo Paredes said services in the courts were hampered due to inadequate funds.

“If we were worried when the budget was still enough, how much more now that it has been slashed?,” Paredes said in an interview.

Paredes said some courts lack office supplies like paper and ink forcing some judges and employees to use their own money to buy office supplies.

“Sometimes, court personnel couldn’t afford to buy supplies so it would take time for them to do their work,” he said.

If the salaries of judges will be increased, Paredes said the government should also consider the plight of ordinary court employees. “The budget for the judiciary is really lacking,” he said. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol