Councilor questions fresh batch of cement in SRP

Will Cebu City Hall waste more bags of cement?

After the City Council raised questions of unused of cement that hardened in the Department of Engineering (DEPW) stockyard in the South Reclamation Properties (SRP), new bags of cement were delivered the area, said Councilor Roberto Cabarrubias, head of the City Council’s infrastucture committee.

“There were many (bags) because these were covered,” he told Cebu Daily News.

“Why were more materials delivered when there are many that remain unused?”

He said he will launch an inquiry on the materials in SRP, including the newly delivered cement. He said they have yet to know how many bags were delivered.

Cabarrubias earlier assailed the DEPW, which kept stocks of unused culverts, bags of cement, hollow blocks and steel bars.

Most of the 400 bags of cement can no longer be used. Each bag costs P210. Cabarrubias also said there are 100 pieces of 60-inch-wide culverts that are unused.

The culverts have darkened, which indicates these were kept for at least a decade, he said.

Cabarrubias authored a resolution dated May 4 requesting City engineer Kenneth Enriquez to submit an inventory of the materials and an explanation why these were not used.

“In this penny-pinching situation, we in the government service should practice the art of conservation in terms of power, use of government vehicles, materials and many others,” Cabarrubias said in his privilege speech last week.

The councilor questioned why did the city needs to purchase hollow blocks when City Hall has five hollow block makers.

Cabarrubias said he will discuss the matter in a meeting with Enriquez and the Division for the Welfare and Urban Poor./WITH UPV TACLOBAN iNTERN CHERRY S. QUITO