No salaries for 650 EWs, no new projects
CONSEQUENCE OF REENACTED BUDGET
AFTER the Dagupan sanggunian failed anew to pass the proposed 2015 budget last week, its first regular session in 2015, Mayor Belen T. Fernandez already began to forewarn city residents about a reduction in the delivery of basic services in the months ahead.
“Since the city has no budget for their salaries, we have to let go of many job order employees,” Fernandez said, as she pointed out that the city is already operating on a reenacted budget.
The proposed P691 million budget was submitted to the council as early as October 2.
Affected by the reenacted budget are operations of ten departments, namely the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMC), Public Alert and Response Management Center (PARMC), Waste Management Division, City Social Welfare and Development Office, City Action Service Team, City Health Office, City Engineering Office, Public Order and Services Office, Market Division and the City Nutrition Office.
The mayor assured the city, however, that despite reduction in manpower, both CDRRMC and PARMC, the response team BELEN 911, including the market division, will continue to operate 24/7.
“With the city operating on reenacted budget, we have no option but to say goodbye to some of our job order employees who have proven themselves effective in performing their jobs. This is very unfortunate since they also have their families who depend on them for support,” Fernandez said.
City Budget Officer Luz De Guzman said that activities for the completion of several of the city’s infra projects including the women’s center, the evacuation center in barangay Salapingao, library hub and other projects to be bankrolled under the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Process will be suspended.
However, Fernandez, continues to hope that the budget for 2015 will be eventually acted upon by the SP after she was assured by councilors Maybelyn Rose D. Fernandez, Jesus D. Canto, Jeslito C. Seen, Jose Netu M. Tamayo and Marcelino Fernandez of their support.
Only two more councilors’s vote will be needed to approve the 2015 budget.
Seen is also optimistic that the budget will be approved by the council soon as he sees no legal impediment why the budget will not be approved.
On Tuesday, Seen already forwarded a letter to the committee on rules to calendar the 2015 budget in the next regular session.
However, until Vice Mayor Brian Lim or two-thirds of the councilors approve the inclusion of the 2015 budget in the regular agenda, nothing moves. (CIO)
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