The sister city of Davao will donate two brand new buses with a total worth of P16 million to the local government.
The City Council approved the deed of donation executed by Nanning City, China for the donation of two Sunlong buses.
Councilor J Melchor Quitain Jr., who chairs the committee on rules, privileges, laws, and ordinances, said the resolution authorizes the city mayor to enter into an agreement with the government of Nanning City, People’s Republic of China.
Each of the buses cost no less than P8 million, Quitain said. Their use will be left to the discretion of City Hall.
As stated in the deed of donation, the city has to shell out P512,000 to cover half of the cost for the freight and delivery charges of the buses.
“Even if we shell out more than P500,000, it will still be beneficial to the city,” said
“We asked for the legal opinion and it says that it is perfectly legal with no legal infirmities,” Quitain, the majority floor leader, said.
“We also got a certification from the City Budget Officer that the P512,000 is available, however, the money will be taken from the extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses under CY 2019,” he added.
Quitain said based on information from Ermelinda F. Gallego, the city budget officer, the extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses is subject to the discretion of the mayor.
Davao and Nanning entered into a sister city agreeement in 2007 during the term of the then city mayor and now President Rodrigo Duterte. It was renewed automatically after it expired in 2017.
