MikeLigalig.com

The city council of Dumaguete has denied Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria’s letter request for an appropriation of P7,450,000.00 for the purchase of various heavy equipment, until such time that all the questions are cleared before a committee meeting.

Council members say there’s a need to scrutinize the funding appropriation in suggesting that requests of such kind be endorsed to the city council one week before the cut off day, to give ample time for committee hearings.

The presiding officer Vice Mayor Alan Gel S Cordova said that it is not a mandate of the legislative body to delay requests for funding, but their mandate is to protect the city coffers.

In an interview, Sagarbarria explained the P7.45 million appropriation will be used to purchase one big bulldozer, one big backhoe to be used in rechannelling Banica river, and other projects of the city and a small back hoe specifically to dislodge the canals of Dumaguete.

The mayor said time is of the essence to prevent an recurrence of the February 7 floodings, citing the need to clear Banica river of all obstructions.

In like manner, the mayor’s request to buy two mini dumptrucks for collection of dislodged materials from the city’s canals was also junked by the city council. - PNA

has the time come for every politician anywhere in the country to think twice about procuring backhoes after the maguindanao tragedy?