CEBU - The Cebu Provincial Board has approved a resolution authorizing Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to purchase up to 10,000 bags of rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) to be used solely for victims of calamities and other emergencies. This resolution of the provincial board, however, has not been signed by Vice-Governor Greg Sanchez, who has raised doubts that the rice might be used during the barangay elections. Such accusation has been shrugged aside by Governor Garcia, saying that "someone disastrously thought this will be used in the barangay election." Saying, "That's a cheap accusation," Garcia urged the board members to forward the resolution to her office even without the signature of the Vice-Governor. NFA 7 Director Edgar Bentulan said he was the one who informed Garcia about the rice credit program for local government units (LGUs), allowing the latter to avail of rice credits from the NFA in the event of a disaster or calamity. Bentulan said that once the NFA and the different LGUs sign a formal Memorandum of Agreement, a province can avail of up to 5,000 bags; a city, up to 2,000 bags; and a municipality, up to 1,000 bags.
These bags of rice can be claimed within 15 days. In another development, meanwhile, the Cebu provincial capitol has allotted P15 million for the renovation of its main building which, for the past decade, has not had any repairs. The funding for the renovation is among the items in the proposed P86.47 million supplemental budget of the Cebu provincial government. Provincial Engineer Eulogio Pelayre said the capitol's main building's roof has been found to be leaking while its drainage pipes need immediate repairs.
There are also other deteriorating sections in the building that need to be repaired immediately. Among these areas to be renovated are hallways and several department offices in the Capitol building which practically houses the entire Executive Department of the provincial government. In said P86.47-million supplemental budget proposed by the Cebu Governor for 2010, the budget for renovation accounts for the biggest chunk after the anniversary bonuses of employees which amounts to at least P22 million.
