By Christine Mae Pelayo
QUOTE
THE lack of funds is preventing the Bacolod City Composite Enforcement Unit (CEU) to inspect the internet cafes in the city.
Lawyer Allan Zamora, city legal officer, said the P1-million 2006 budget for the enforcement team is not enough to cover for all their operational needs.
"What kind of performance can we give them? It is unfair on our part (CEU) for them to expect us to conduct inspections on these establishments when we lack manpower because of the monetary constraints," he said.
With this, Zamora saw the need for the City Council to allot a substantial
amount for the enforcement team.
He explained that the P1-million budget can only accommodate 10-15 persons in the enforcement adding that the enforcement unit covers all markets, sidewalks and illegal structures.
Members of the CEU are tasked to regulate sidewalk vendors and assist in the demolitions of illegal structures.
"They (City Council) cannot blame us if we cannot intensify the conduct of operation against violators of the internet ordinance. They should consider increasing the budget," Zamora said.
He added that the CEU requested for an additional P1 million to bring the allotment to P2 million. The City Council slashed the budget though to only P500,000.
Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, however, vetoed the P500,000 allotment for the CEU and retained the P1 million budget.
The P1 million budget for the CEU was proposed during the administration of former Mayor Luzviminda Valdez.
Earlier, the Negros Occidental Internet Cafe Association sought the help of the City Government to regulate the issue on internet price war by conducting rigid inspections on internet shops in the city.
Lawyer Allan Zamora, city legal officer, said the P1-million 2006 budget for the enforcement team is not enough to cover for all their operational needs.
"What kind of performance can we give them? It is unfair on our part (CEU) for them to expect us to conduct inspections on these establishments when we lack manpower because of the monetary constraints," he said.
With this, Zamora saw the need for the City Council to allot a substantial
amount for the enforcement team.
He explained that the P1-million budget can only accommodate 10-15 persons in the enforcement adding that the enforcement unit covers all markets, sidewalks and illegal structures.
Members of the CEU are tasked to regulate sidewalk vendors and assist in the demolitions of illegal structures.
"They (City Council) cannot blame us if we cannot intensify the conduct of operation against violators of the internet ordinance. They should consider increasing the budget," Zamora said.
He added that the CEU requested for an additional P1 million to bring the allotment to P2 million. The City Council slashed the budget though to only P500,000.
Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, however, vetoed the P500,000 allotment for the CEU and retained the P1 million budget.
The P1 million budget for the CEU was proposed during the administration of former Mayor Luzviminda Valdez.
Earlier, the Negros Occidental Internet Cafe Association sought the help of the City Government to regulate the issue on internet price war by conducting rigid inspections on internet shops in the city.
Sun.Star