Mayor gets stingy with comments on issues involving Cebu City funds

AS THE year comes to a close, money issues are piling up, boggling both the executive and legislative departments of Cebu City.

Yesterday, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama was asked whether the City Government is willing to extend help to the other provinces devastated by super typhoon Pablo like Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.

Rama did not give a categorical answer and just said that there might be criticisms and questions again on the financial capability of the City Government.

He will have the calamity fund checked, though, as it reportedly still has a balance of P11 million.

Rama declined to comment on criticisms against him, such as the latest one lodged by

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young that the mayor is using the planned cash gifts to City Hall employees to woo their votes.

“I don't want to answer that as they don't even know yet how much we are giving,” the mayor said.

The initial plan is to give as much as P20,000 to each employee, but this will have to depend on the availability of funds.

Not ready

As of yesterday, the third supplemental budget (SB 3) was not yet ready.

It should have been passed by now to beat the deadline for its inclusion in the agenda for the next regular session of the Cebu City Council this Wednesday.

“There will always be time if people will spend time on it,” Rama said.

There are only three regular sessions left before the year ends. But bonuses should be given before Christmas Day.

The Council, though, is conducting marathon budget hearings starting Monday. It can also call for a special session to tackle urgent matters.

Allowances

Rama will also check on the P2,000 allowance that have not been released to law enforcers.

The allowance was already depleted so that the City has stopped the release of incentive allowance.

There are 1,100 law enforcers from the Cebu City Police Office, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 and maritime police affected by the non-release of incentives.

The allowance of law enforcers, bonus and allowance of prosecutors are among the items that could be included in the SB 3.

But it will depend on the availability of funds and prioritization of items.

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