DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 11 Dec) – The City Council here approved on its second reading Tuesday its Supplemental Budget (SB) 3 worth almost P434 million.
Expected to be finally approved on Thursday on its third reading, the P433,928,192.87 in SB 3 will be allocated for infrastructure projects, non-infrastructure projects, and bonuses to city government officials and employees, said Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz, chair of the committee on finance, ways and means, and appropriations.
Thursday, December 12, will be the final session day in the city council.
When asked how much the bonuses will each city employee receive, Ortiz was not able to mention any precise amount, but it would depend on whether the employee is plantilla, contract of service, or job order staff.
The P434-million budget was divided to two allocations, the development fund amounting to P357,075,711.87 and a General Fund Proper amounting to P76,852,481.00.
The city’s third supplemental fund came from General Fund Proper surplus from 2023 annual budget worth P118,352,821.35; bulk reversed appropriations from 2023 and 2024 budget funds worth P303,475,371.52; and an interfund transfer from operation of markets to the economic enterprise management office worth P12,100,000.
Of this supplemental budget, P53 million will be used for the Peace and Order and Public Safety Program, P3.5 million for purchasing motor vehicles in response to the request of Davao City Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Drug Dependents (DCTRC), and P1 million for the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs.
All aforementioned offices are under the City Mayor’s Office.
In the committee report obtained by the media, Dr. Michelle Buscato-Schlosser, officer-in-charge of the DCTRC, said that the additional vehicles would be used for the transportation of patients and the procurement of necessary supplies for the rehabilitation center.
“Although the center currently owns vehicles, these are insufficient to meet the daily demands of its operations, especially given the volume of patient transportation and logistics required to maintain the facility’s services,” Ortiz said.
SB 3 will be allocated to the Public Safety and Security Office, Sangguniang Panlungsod, City Administrator’s Office, City Social Welfare and Development Office, City Cooperative and Development Office, and City Engineer’s Office. (Ian Carl Espinosa / MindaNews)
