More programs, projects for the new city in Cavite

By Ruel B. Francisco

Saturday 14th of July 2012

CITY OF IMUS, Cavite, July 13 (PIA) – Residents of this new city will soon enjoy more programs and projects from the city government especially on infrastructure developments, health services, educational assistance and other needs of Imuseños.

In a “Thank You Party” attended by almost forty (40) media practitioners in his residence in Imus last week, City Mayor Emmanuel Maliksi expressed his gratitude to them for their continuous support in disseminating relevant, timely and accurate information on various programs and projects of the city government especially during the cityhood campaign.

Maliksi presented to the media the result of the plebiscite last June 30 which were certified by the Comelec showing 20,438 Yes votes as against 2,304 No votes to make Imus a city.

With regards to the benefits of being a city, Mayor Maliksi explained that this would mean an increase in the annual income of the city government. He added that additional shares from the national government through Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) and the more than Php80 million which were remitted to the provincial government can now be use for various programs and projects in the city.

“What’s good in all of this is that we would have the fund for more social services, a modest share on Special Educational Fund (SEF) that can be used for scholarship programs for the less fortunate but deserving students, more health services, more classrooms and various projects of the barangays,” Maliksi said.

But the mayor reminded the media that changes cannot be accomplished overnight as the City Council headed by its presiding officer Vice Mayor Mandy Ilano is currently in the process of passing new ordinances and resolutions for the city.

“First, we would need to prepare a new budget for 2013 and from this; we will directly consult all the concerned sectors while the city council on the other hand, can approve a appropriate budget to fund the on-going programs for this year and prepare an allocation for projects and services next year,” Maliksi concluded. (Ruel Francisco, PIA-Cavite)