Silay SP okays P15.9 B City Investment Plan
BACOLOD CITY -- The Sangguniang Panglungsod (SP) of Silay City has adopted and approved the City Investment Plan (CIP) amounting to P15,926,509,501.00.
This CIP includes the city's Annual Investment Plan, Medium Term Investment Plan and Long Term Investment Plan.
Councilor Jose Raymundo Locsin, Chairman of the SP Committee on Finance, was the proponent.
Locsin with Councilors Michael Maravilla, Rosalinda Caja, Warlito Go, Mario Torres and Joedith Gallego voted in favor of the said resolution.
Councilors Marie June Castro and Michael Thomas Velez voted in the negative while Councilors Daniel Sagario and Salvador Segovia abstained.
Councilor Castro said that the CIP contains the list of projects to be funded from the 20% Development Fund of the P200 million Internal Revenue Allotment -(IRA) of the city which means that the city can only allocate P40 million every year for the projects as contained in the multi billion CIP.
"It would take 400 years for Silay City to fully fund the projects in the CIP. It's very unrealistic and impossible," she said.
Under the CIP, the city will put up a Light Rail Train (LRT) worth P14 billion, conduct a feasibility study worth P15 million for the sea port, Malogo river dam which will consist of irrigation, power, water, sports, recreation, inland; fisheries and racing village.
It will also construct a swimming pool in Bon-Bon, swimming pool and Club House in Balaring and complete the swimming pool at the old hospital in Brgy. Patag amounting P6 million.
Castro said that the basic services like the Day Care Program, DOH devolved program, Gender and Development, Handicapped Development, National Health program, rehab and diabetic, rural health, scholarship, senior citizen, skills training, SPES, Sports Development, Tourism and Youth Development programs have meager allocations.
Castro said that she is embarrassed and ashamed that we in Silay have this much kind of CIP.
"While there are some reasonable and needed programs that are included in the CIP list that I'd like to support, I cannot support the many items which are even rejected by my constituents. They said they don't need them. I am sensitive and responsive to the will of our people, many of whom are hungry and angry and want better basic services from the administration. I also refuse to be a laughing stock of a bigger Negros community. I will still give my support to the real AIP for 2009, which has funding and are deliverable or implementable," she said.