PB Approves P1.5-M Cash Assistance for the City of Naga
The Cebu Provincial Board (PB) passed a resolution granting P1.5 million in financial assistance to the City Government of Naga for the mobilization and sustainability of the city’s Purok System program.
The resolution, which was approved last Monday during the PB’s second out-of-town session held in Naga, will benefit the 488 puroks located in the city’s 28 barangays, said Sangguniang Panlungsod secretary Gary Cabotaje.
Support for barangays and puroks is part of the Province’s countryside development plan, which is one of Gov. Hilario P. Davide III’s Six Key Development Agenda.
The City Council of Naga approved a resolution seeking for financial assistance from the Capitol for its Purok System program.
“Earnestly requesting the Cebu Provincial Government, through Provincial Board (PB) Member Raul Bacaltos, the amount of P1.5 million financial assistance to Naga City for the mobilization and sustainability of the established Purok System in the city,” as stated in Resolution No 022-D-2018.
Bacaltos submitted the council resolution to the PB for approval in their out-of-town session there.
The amount will be sourced from the governor’s Legislative Assistance Fund (LAF), which will be released to the City Treasurer’s Office. LAF are released upon the chief executive’s discretion, according to the Commission on Audit (COA).
The state audit, in its memorandum in June 2016, cited Section 465 of the Local Government Code that requires the local chief executive, like the governor, to be responsible for the implementation of all approved policies, programs, projects, services and activities of the Province within the respective allocations as approved by the Sanguniang Panlalawigan.
In their second out-of-town session for this year, the PB also approved in mass motion Bacaltos’ resolution expressing profound gratitude and appreciation to the City Government of Naga, led by Mayor Kristine Vanessa Chiong and its officials, for hosting their regular session. For this year, the first out-of-town session of the Provincial Board was held in Balamban town.
Prior to the approval of the cash assistance, Bacaltos, who represents Cebu’s first district in the Provincial Board, submitted Naga City Council’s resolution requesting for financial assistance from the Province. The proposed resolution was initially placed under “Other Matters.”
Since PB house rules mandate that resolution granting financial assistance must be calendared and should not be a mere part of ”Other Matters,” Bacaltos appealed before the board to waive the imposition of their house rules to accommodate the City’s request, which the rest of the board members acceded.
The PB amended their agenda, and made Bacaltos’ proposed resolution as item No. 56, an addition to their 55-item agenda. In mass motion, the resolution was approved.
