NIP AND CUT: P85M slashed from P130-M supplemental budget

AND the slashing begins.

COUNCILOR Plaridel Nava, the new deputy floor leader and chair of the Committee on Appropriations, deleted two items from the proposed supplemental budget of the Iloilo City government.

The rejected items are the proposed P35-million land development including site embankment and compaction for the construction of Iloilo City Sports Arena in Brgy. San Pedro, Molo, Iloilo City; and the construction of the P50-million Multi-purpose Building for offices at the Kerr Building.

During its regular session on October 16, 2018, the Sangguniang Panlungsod only approved P45,088,408.09 for the supplemental budget which was originally at P130,088,408. 89.

In his committee report, Nava emphasized that it is not practical to allocate P35-million for the proposed construction of the Iloilo City Sports Arena.

“This is not practicable and unnecessary as of this time. Why? Because we have not even granted the mayor the authority to contract a loan for the construction of this sports arena. Let’s wait for that first before we decide to allocate budget, that is why we reject that,” he said.

Nava also questioned the proposed construction of the multi-purpose building in the Kerr Company Site and reiterated that there is no cogent reason for the construction.

“I could not understand the explanation and the essence of this project that is why I recommended the disapproval of this and I asked the City Engineers Office what is the purpose of the building. According to them this will house some offices that were not accommodated in the City Hall but they cannot tell me what offices are these,” Nava stated.

Last August 20, the Iloilo City Council passed a resolution authorizing Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III to negotiate a bank loan to finance the construction of the Iloilo City Sports Arena.

The proposed P500-million loan from either the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) or the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) will pave the way for the fully air-conditioned sports facility.

Espinosa, who envisions a fully air-conditioned multi-purpose sports arena that can accommodate 7,000 people, emphasized that the city lacks facilities that can pass the requirements for the hosting of national tournaments.

Recently, Nava led a revamp on the City Council ousting Councilors R Leone Gerochi and Eduardo Peñaredondo on their committee leadership.

In his privilege speech, Nava said that the Council has become a lapdog of the present administration.

“Majority of the council members have lost their trust and confidence in the leadership of Peñaredondo and Gerochi,” he stated.

Six of the eight councilors who voted Peñaredondo and Gerochi’s ousters belong to the camp of Cong. Jerry Treñas who is running against Espinosa in the mayoral seat.

Nava, who will be running for vice mayor under the group of former Rep. Pacita Gonzalez, will be facing City Councilor Gerochi in tandem with Espinosa under the Nacionalista Party.

Peñaredondo, who lost his chairmanship on the committees on Rules, Appropriations, and Zoning, will be seeking his reelection also under Espinosa’s camp.

SOURCE: The Daily Guardian

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