SP to Mayor Lim: Let people know your plans
IN response to the letter of Mayor Brian Lim on February 4 calling on the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) to expedite the passage of the 2022 appropriation ordinance, the legislative body passed a resolution on February 8 expressing its intent to adopt a budget that is sufficient and responsive to the needs of the people of Dagupan.
Councilor Jose Tamayo, author of the resolution, pointed out that the proposed 2022 annual city budget is different from previous budgets because of the additional funds that will be downloaded to the city representing additional shares to local government units from revenues collected by the national government in compliance with the Mandanas ruling of the Supreme Court.
The resolution cited the guidelines set by Executive Order No. 138 of President Rodrigo Duterte that additional shares of the city will not accrue to the coffers of Dagupan but to pay for services and personnel that will be devolved by the national government to the city.
The resolution also noted the letter of Department of Budget Regional Director Rea Balsigan dated January 24, 2022 stating the rule that the Capacity Development Agenda and the Devolution Transition Plan need not be included in the Annual Investment Plan submitted by the city hall. According to Tamayo, it did not take into consideration that Dagupan is an independent component city.
The resolution cited the contradiction in Balsigan‘s statement when she stated in her letter of a need to submit the plans required by the SP and the deadline for the submission of these plans was December 12, 2021 but the same have not been submitted.
It cited the need for the city hall to comply just like the 31 barangays of Dagupan that submitted their respective Devolution Transition Plans.
To implement the intent of Executive Order No. 138, the resolution cited the need for the city government to submit the required Cap Dev Agenda and the DTP.
Meanwhile, Tamayo said the SP already started to review the IAP submitted by the office of Mayor Lim; the AIP of the City Health Office, headed by OIC Dr. Dalvie Casilang, was already being reviewed.
Tamayo reiterated that it is the right of the people of Dagupan to know how the funds of the local LGU are being allocated and it is the right of the SP as co-equal branch to ensure that the public would know where the funds are going.
The SP also offered to help the executive department prepare and complete the documentation to comply with the requirements of the city council in order to conform with the guidelines set by EO 138 of President Duterte. (Leonardo Micua)
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