Newsbrief

Only half of seniors aid for Christmas

THE Cebu City government may only release half of the P4,000 balance of the senior citizens assistance before year end in the absence of new revenue sources, acting city treasurer Diwa Cuevas said yesterday.

Cuevas said they have so far identified the P80 million expected proceeds from the sales of the city-owned lot located beside the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug to fund the seniors assistance.

The city’s Waterfront property is now for sale. Cuevas said at least two interested parties placed their bids on the lot.

The opening of bids by the city’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) will be done this Thursday.

But Cuevas said the lot sale proceeds isn’t enough to pay off the entire P4,000 balance of the seniors cash assistance. The city would need P240 million to take care of the balance.

“Even if that were sold, under the worst case scenario, the city could only afford the P2,000 assistance,” she said.

Rolando Llagono, head of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA), said he is hopeful that the cash will be released to the seniors during the Dec. 18 “Pasalamat ni Lola ug Lolo (Thanksgiving to Grandma and Grandpa)” organized by the city government. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac

City Legal Office grilled on private practice setup

WHO takes care of Cebu City Hall’s legal concerns if its lawyers are also engaged in private practice?

Councilor Sisinio Andales raised this point during yesterday’s Cebu City Council budget hearing in which the City Legal Office sought a P21.1 million budget for next year.

Andales, a lawyer by profession, said allowing city government lawyers to engage in private practice may result to some “problems” for the city.

City Legal Officer Jerone Castillo said he issues “pass out slips” to allow the lawyers to leave City Hall and attend to their private practice during office hours. Their absence is charged to their authorized leave credits.

The City Legal Office now has 15 lawyers of which only eight are regular employees.

Castillo told the council that he needed more lawyers to help out in the city’s legal concerns.

Castillo said the bulk of their P21.1 million budget request amounting to P16.7 million will be spent on salaries, incentives and other benefits.

He said engaging in limited practice is allowed by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and Mayor Michael Rama.

“We checked and verified this with CSC and it’s very clear that (their) time spent outside (of City Hall) will not be paid (by the city government),” he said.

Councilor Margot Osmeña asked Castillo to furnish the council with a list of lawyers engaging in private practice and a copy of the authority which Rama issued. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac

Misuse of city sports funds questioned

THE Cebu City Council asked the Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) to explain to them how they want their 2014 allocation spent in order to prevent the executive department from using some of their appropriations.

This came after Councilor Margot Osmeña, the council’s budget committee chairperson, questioned the P1.4 million appropriation that was issued as a cash advance to pay for the “mayor’s office honorarium” and the “mayor’s office cash advance.”

Acting City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas said during yesterday’s budget hearing that the P1.4 million appropriation is part of the cash advances issued to Charlie Reyes.

She said the amount was spent to pay the honoraria of referees who officiated barangay sports leagues sponsored by Cebu City Hall.

Cuevas said Reyes still has P1 million in unliquidated cash from CCSC funds.

She said her office is preparing to suspend Reyes’ salary unless proper liquidation is made.

Cuevas said they are just waiting for the mayor’s order to suspend Reyes’ salary.

Councilor Sisnio Andales said the filing of appropriate charges against Reyes should also be considered.

“Why was Reyes allowed to make cash advances when he’s not a member of the commission?” Andales asked.

Councilor Richard Osmeña said Reyes is a utility worker at City Hall.

But Reyes is bonded thus making him qualified to avail of cash advances, the councilor said. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac