By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

THE construction of a children’s park in Dandan that cost the government $480,000 has been completed but remains unused because it has yet to be hooked up to a power supply.
Department of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Ignacio De la Cruz said the parks and recreation division still has to arrange for the connection of utilities to the park.
There is only one problem — there is no available money for it.
“No power yet because we have yet to come up with the budge for that,” Dela Cruz said.
He added that the division has to carry the burden of paying the $2,000 deposit for the electricity connection, the power bill that he is estimated to reach $6,000 to 8,000 annually, and the estimated $40,000 for maintenance.
The children’s park is one of the many facilities that need to have utilities.
Dela Cruz earlier disclosed that his department was provided $130,000 to pay its own utility expenses for fiscal year 2007 which started on Oct. 1, 2006.
The central government no longer pays for the utility bills of all branches, departments and agencies.
Each are now provided funding to pay for their own power and water bills.