DAGUPAN Mayor Benjamin Lim is adamant that the continued delay in the approval of the city’s proposed P568 million budget by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) is politically-motivated.

Speaking during the KBP Forum last week, Lim said “I am frustrated, disappointed” and that he has “already lost hope” that the proposed budget will get the city council’s nod.

“Pebrero na pero pinaguusapan pa rin yong budget,” he said.

Members of the SP have twice returned the proposed budget to the city hall’s finance committee after finding several errors in computations, discrepancies 9in items, and for lack of various supporting documents on the proposed funding allotments.

The finance committee headed by City Administrator Vladimir Mata has acknowledged the errors and is now preparing the proposal’s 4^th draft.

Lim asserted that it is the SP’s job to “correct any mistake” in the proposal. Members of the city council, however, maintained it is the responsibility of the mayor’s office to present correct and properly supported budget since the budget emanates from it.

The proposed 2011 budget is higher than the P498 million budget last year, which will be re-enacted if this year’s proposal is not approved by the council by the end of March.

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