Solons Freeze P141.4M Calamity Funds Pending LDC Endorsement

The Cebu City Council has decided not to approve yet the spending of the P141.4 million representing the 70 percent of the calamity budget for Cebu City this year, which is intended for the preparedness programs, because the procurement plan has not been endorsed yet before the Local Development Council for proper endorsement.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña, chairman of the City Council’s committee on budget and finance, questioned the move of the Office of the Mayor when it purchased 30 Closed Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) out of the P15 million budget from the disaster funds without the council’s approval.

Cathy Yso and Alvin Santillana, head and operations officer of the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, respectively, appeared before the City Council yesterday because the city legislators wanted to know about their equipment to be purchased that will be charged to the disaster budget.

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First, the city discussed the city’s plan to purchase a “walking excavator” that that the LDRRMO wanted to acquire from heavy equipment supplier Kaiser Ag Fahrzeugwerk in the amount of P20.5 million that will be charged against the unspent calamity budget in 2011.

The so-called walking excavator, although it looks like a spider, has four big tires and can climb even in slope areas. It can also go down in rivers on its own with the aid of its metal movable “legs.”

It also looks like a backhoe, but its heavy metal clamp can rotate that is why the equipment can also be used for clearing any structures, carry heavy object and then slowly place them down. The city councilors and the other persons present at the City Council admired the ability of the equipment when they have witnessed the video of how a walking excavator works.

Osmeña said the City Council will only approve the purchase of the walking excavator once the City Treasurer’s Office will certify on the availability of funds intended for it.

Some of the proposed projects that will be delayed because of the City Council’s decision not to approve yet the spending of the P141.4 million includes the purchase of a fire truck, water tankers, audio/visual van for the Public Information Office (PIO), response mobile units, rescue boats, maintenance equipment for vehicles, the asphalting of accident-risk areas in upland barangays and several others.

Meanwhile, Mayor Michael Rama explained that the purchase of the 30 CCTV cameras that were installed in strategic areas of the city, including that of the City Hall premises, is in line of the provisions of the 2013 Appropriation Ordinance.

Rama said the ordinance provides that “the amount of P15 million for the other equipment-CCTV peace and order program shall be charged to the 5 percent Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund.”

The CCTV cameras are being placed along Legazpi Extension corner Osmeña Blvd, P. Burgos and  M.C. Briones St., Magallanes and D. Jakosalem St., downtown area, Natalio Bacalso Avenue and Leon Kilat St., Osmeña Blvd. and P. Del Rosario St., Gen. Maxilom Avenue and F. Ramos Street, Escario and Osmeña Blvd. near Capitol, Gen. Maxilom Avenue and Gorordo Avenue and Gen. Maxilom Avenue and Osmeña Blvd.

The CCTV are also placed in areas in Sergio Osmeña Blvd and Pope John Paul Avenue, Salinas Drive and Gov. Cuenco Ave., Natalio Bacalso Ave and V. Rama Avenue., B.  Rodriquez St., M. Velez Street and V. Rama Ave., Gen. Maxilom Avenue and M.J. Cuenco Avenue., Katipunan Street and Salvador St.,South Coastal Road and F. Llamas St. and South Coastal Road corner M. Dela Victoria Street.

These strategic areas are identified by CITOM, PCAC and Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the police.