The City Council on Monday approved a P1.4 billion 2019 supplemental budget for infrastructure projects.
Committee on appropriations chairman, councilor Victor Oliveros, on Wednesday said that the city has a “barreling capacity” based on the omnibus term loan agreement entered into with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) from the last City Council.
“Hindi ibig sabihin nito na sa specific year [2019] lang ito gagamitin. Marami tayong projects na popondohan,” he said.
New facilities
Oliveros pointed out that the supplemental budget intends to “heavily fund” infrastructure projects such as smart street light technology, procurement of heavy equipment, installation of the sewage treatment plant (STP) in New Public Market, and construct new facilities.
“Balak naming magtayo ng bagong building sa New Market; gumawa ng police station sa Barangay Irawan; magpatayo ng mas mataas na category ng slaughter house, at iba pa,” Oliveros said.
The city’s 3rd supplemental budget for this year followed mayor Lucilo Bayron’s initiative to strengthen the infrastructure and development wing of the city citing its importance in providing “better services” for its constituents.
Better roads ahead
Oliveros said that the smart street light technology installed on certain roads such as BM and Wescom will be replicated throughout the city.
“We are the first city in the country to have this kind of technology. It is energy-efficient and makakatipid tayo in the long run kasi the brightness of the lamp posts are controlled based on what the luminosity is being required to light up certain places,” he said.
He also disclosed that the city is set to acquire several types of heavy equipment that will be used in the city’s road improvement projects, particularly concrete and asphalt pavers, dump trucks, boom trucks, plant mixers, bulldozers, and backhoes to name a few.
According to the recently approved appropriation bill SDO No. 55-2019, the supplemental budget will be funded by the Landbank of the Philippines with four percent annual interest.
