City council approval expected this week

By January 19, 2015Headlines, News

2015 DAGUPAN CITY BUDGET

THE members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod agreed to start deliberation on the 2015 budget next week after they approved on January 13 the city’s Annual Investment Program, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) Plan and the Gender and Development program for 2015.

Councilor Jeslito C. Seen, committee on appropriations chairman, and author of the budget measure, himself moved for deferment of the deliberation of the budget when it was tackled on second reading during the regular session last January 13. It was seconded by Majority floor Leader Maybelyn Fernandez.

He said, however, that notwithstanding the one-week deferment he is finally confident that his colleagues will finally adopt the 2015 budget soon after the committee report is approved next week.

“The 2015 budget is historical because this is the first time that our budget is free of any form of pork barrel that allows a councilor to sponsor an activity or project, so we are keen on streamlining the process,” Seen said.

He added that since the Supreme Court ruled that Priority Development Assistance Fund and any funding for similar purpose as unconstitutional, his committee closely examined budgets submitted by the departments. “We do not have any form of PDAF in our 2015 budget,” he said.

His confidence apparently stemmed from the outcome of the consultation meeting between members of the majority and Mayor Belen Fernandez last Sunday evening that reportedly resulted in the reconciliation of views in the implementation of budget policies.

No details of that meeting that lasted through early Monday morning, however, were revealed to the media.

The session was presided by Councilor Jose Netu Tamayo, assistant presiding pro tempore, in absence of both Councilor Karlos Reyna, presiding protempore, and Vice Mayor Brian Lim. The other absent alderman was Councilor Guillermo Vallejos.

Seen expects the deliberation to center on clarifications and no insertion of any kind in the committee report will be made since the report has been approved with finality during the budget hearings.

The city, meanwhile, continues to operate on a reenacted budget when the city council failed to act on the 2015 budget before it adjourned for the Christmas holiday.

Under a reenacted budget, the city government cannot allow payment of salaries to emergency workers and consultants, and funding for new projects and activities.

Once the budget is approved, the emergency workers who have been reporting for work since the first working day this year have been assured of payment of their salaries retroactively.

Before the adjournment of last Tuesday’s session, Councilor Alfie Fernandez, chairman of the committee on laws and ordinances, rose to assure the city that the 2015 annual budget will be passed post-haste for the benefit of the families of the performing 650 EWs as well. (Leonardo Micua)

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