The City Council of Puerto Princesa approved last November 18 the General Fund Supplemental Budget No. 3 in the amount of P1,453,285,342.87 despite the objection of City Councilor Peter “Jimbo” Maristela.
Minority Leader Maristela objected the passage of the measure saying that during the approval of the ordinance on second reading, the program of works were not available, and it was only on third and final reading that they were furnished with the same. He argued that it should have been given first even it just a sketch before they decided on the measure.
Secondly, the P700 million “smart lighting” has no specific location where it will be placed in urban areas, and each unit costs around P250,000, which for him is big money although the lights are needed.
There was also no listing of heavy equipment that will be procured, he added. It means that when the council approved it on the second reading, it was in the form of lump-sum appropriation, Maristela said, although the Commission on Audit (COA) does not prohibit it, they discourage it.
Nonetheless, the bidding process of the projects included in the supplemental budget will start this December, according to the City Budget Chief.
Regina Cantillo confirmed that the P1.4 Million was loaned by the City Government from the Land Bank of the Philippines last 2017, while the remaining money was the revenue collected from the public market and slaughterhouse.
The P100 million will be used for the procurement of heavy equipment, P30 million for construction of a police station in Brgy. Irawan, P700 million for the street lights (smart lighting system) in urban areas of the City, P20 million for Sewerage Treatment plant of Agricultural Trading Center in Brgy Irawan, P53 million for the construction of a slaughterhouse, public markets in Brgy Irawan and Brgy San Jose, and other projects.
Meanwhile, City Councilor Victor Oliveros, Chairman of Committee of Appropriations explained to the media that the procurement of heavy equipment will enable the City Engineering Department to work on in-house projects.
He pointed out that the city government can save more money if their projects will be facilitated by the administration rather than by contract and monitoring worker performance is easier. The city also can save more money on street lights because of the smart lightning technology that has a mechanism to adjust in ambient light.
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