Schools, roads top list of M’daue mayor

MAYOR Jonas Cortes of Mandaue City vowed to build more schools and prioritize road and drainage rehabilitation next year after the city council approved his P1.6-billion budget uncut last Wednesday.

“We have to spend within our means. What is important is our priorities in 2012. Expect more classrooms to be constructed on the lots that we have purchased this year,” Mayor Cortes said, expressing his gratitude for the support of the council.

This year, the city invested millions to acquire properties for them to have spaces for building classrooms next year.

He said buying lots is not a dead investment because it is for the future of Mandaue, especially the children.

City Councillor Beethoven Andaya, chairman of the budget and finance committee, said the budget for next year is the biggest that the city has ever had.

But this is not enough to fund all the improvements and projects needed.

Andaya said the city needs P3 million for the improvement of the City Veterinary Office and its slaughterhouse.

The city also needs P600,000 for the trainings and seminar of the cooperatives of informal settlers and tricycle drivers.

Of the P1.6-billion budget, the Department of General Services got the biggest share with P221.4 million followed by the City Engineers’ Office with an appropriation of about P110 million./REPORTER JUCELL MARIE P. CUYOS with Fe Marie Dumaboc