More budget cut in city hall operations up
DAGUPAN FUND CRISIS
THE INITIAL belt-tightening in the Dagupan City Hall is not enough to see the city through its financial crisis.
This became apparent after City Budget Officer Luz de Guzman proposed to raise P3.5 million to alleviate situation by slashing budgets of the city departments to the extent that it would not affect the delivery of services to the people.
“What this (slash) means is that some of the activities of the city government will have to be shelved. Programs and projects are to be shelved as well,” said Rosario, also designated by Mayor Belen Fernandez as chairman of the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC).
To be affected by the proposed budget slash will be the City Mayor’s Office, Sangguniang Panlungsod, Civil Registrar’s Office, General Service Office, City Budget Office, City Treasurer’s Office, City Assessor’s Office, City Library, City Legal Office, Public Order and Safety Office, City Health Office, Waste Management Division, City Social Welfare and Development Office, Population Office, City Agriculture Office, City Veterinary Office, City Engineering Office and Market Division.
The LFC also proposed to draw P550,000 from the combined Non-Office Accounts, among them are the Special Projects and Programs, Cultural Heritage Commission Program, Police Law Enforcement Board, Public Enterprises and Revenue Generation Program and Gender and Development Plan program.
Other funds to be tapped to plug the revenue shortfall are the financial assistance funds, falling under accounts payable, that are still undocumented but were disapproved by Fernandez when she assumed office in July, P7 million; cancelled purchase request of one unit of Sports Utility Vehicle for the Assessor’s Office, P944,980; cancelled checks for study tours in the amounts of P87,740 and P85,920, respectively.
De Guzman said the city can also use the P260,000 that was reserved for the payment of a tread mill, already delivered by the supplier but eventually pulled out when Fernandez assumed office.
The exercise machine was bought by the past city administration supposedly for the use of employees.
LFC also recommended the sale of unserviceable equipment under the care of the General Service Office which would generate P1.4 million; another P4.8 million in funded purchase requests but have yet to be delivered by the suppliers; cost of publication, P1 million; security deposit put in a trust fund, P1.5 million; accounts payable in the Office of the City Accounting, P2.8 million; and income from other sources, P4 million.
De Guzman, said when all these are pooled, the city will be able to pay its P24 million (July to December) electric bill and still ensure that no emergency workers not will lose their jobs.
Another measure proposed by LFC to meet any further shortage is the public auction of the Toyota Hi-lux bought by the past city administration for P1.5 million from the calamity fund.
City Auditor Virgilio Quinto already gave his go signal to the auction of the vehicle on condition that a disposal committee would be created for the purpose.
There are also a proposals for the sale of unserviceable assets of the city which can generate P1.4 million and the tapping of the Resource Use Deposits by fish pen owners in the amount of P128,000.
Once pooled, all these amounts shall be reverted first by the SP to the general fund and re-appropriated for different specific purposes in an approved supplemental budget.
De Guzman admitted the budget for the Christmas bonus of regular employees remains but none for any other additional bonuses.
Per the Audit Observation Memorandum of City Auditor Quinto, EWs and consultants are not entitled to Christmas bonuses.
“We should learn from the past and I’ll make sure that, together with the department heads, there will be no overspending and unnecessary expenditures in the 2014 budget,” Fernandez said.
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