VICE Mayor Belen Fernandez, chair of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, defended the P487 million budget approved by the city council, lower than the proposed P568 million, as a conscientious move and not politically-motivated.

“We will not do that just for the sake of politics,” said Fernandez, pointing out that the budget submitted by the city executives contained many discrepancies which when approved en toto would be disadvantageous to the city and people.

Fernandez said she is proud of the majority members of the city council who painstakingly reviewed the proposed budget.

The SP-approved budget has been forwarded to the mayor’s office. (See related story on budget)

“What is more shameful, the budget that is overstated or the budget that was scrutinized but will serve more people?” she asked.

The vice mayor said the approved budget will ensure that the taxes paid by Dagupenos to the city government will go to where they should be.

EMPLOYEE SALARIES

The approved budget also covers the salary increase of the city employees with retroactive effect from January 1.

“I would like to inform the employees that their salaries and their corresponding increases are intact in the approved budget,” Fernandez said. A budget of P197.3 million for personal services was approved.

However, the proposed budget for emergency workers (EWs) had to be reduced because of the prohibition under the Local Government Code to hire more than 500 EWs which states that such item should not exceed 45 percent of the total budget.

In case the budget is vetoed by Mayor Benjamin Lim, Fernandez said it is up to the city council’s majority to decide on the next course of action.

“In case of a veto and no further changes are introduced by the SP, the city will assume a re-enacted budget, under which the mayor will have no budget for capital outlay and infrastructure,” Fernandez noted.

“Para sa akin, the best option is for the mayor to approve the budget,” she said.

EDUCATION BUDGET

Meanwhile, Fernandez noted that for the first time in the history of the city, the Special Educational Fund registered a negative balance of P1 million in 2010.

In the last administration, she said there was a surplus of P4 million for the education fund.–LM

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