Province Realigns P60M Funds

The Cebu Provincial Development Council (PDC) on Wednesday approved the realignment of P62 million funds from the 20 percent Development Fund to other “urgent and priority projects” of the province.

Affected in this realignment was the Cebu International Convention Center, which was allocated P1 million for its repair in the 2004 annual invest plan. The multi-million dollar facility was destroyed by last year’s earthquake and typhoon. The entire amount supposedly for its restoration is now earmarked to the rehabilitation of the Cebu Cultural Center after the PDC executive committee approved the realignment.

The move came after Gov. Hilario Davide III had declared that the province, under his term, will not make anymore repair to CICC, which is already subject to sale or private-public partnership.

Another realigned fund was for the “planning and implementation” of the trans-axial highway, which was allocated P9.1 million in this year’s budget. The PDC approved the transfer of the funds for the the implementation of Philippine Rural Development Program of the Department of Agriculture.

The PDC also realigned the P50 million budget for the construction or rehabilitation of buildings and other government structures to the restoration and construction of provincial, municipal and barangay roads worth P49 million.

The P1 million is for the “eco-tourism development program” in Malapascua Island in Daanbantayan town.

The Museo Sugbo’s P2 million budget supposedly for its restoration and preservation was also transferred to “other museum and heritage sites or structure.”

The resolution was carried unanimously by the PDC executive committee which is composed of Provincial Board member Grecilda Sanchez, Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante, PB member Celestino Martinez III, Samboan Mayor Raymund Joseph Caldero, Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez JR and NORFIL Foundation executive director Maria Terasa Nuqui.