SPARKS flew inside the Dagupan City hall and it certainly was not about pre-New Year celebration but the proposed budget.

“They are sitting on their job.”

This was Mayor Benjamin Lim’s opening blast after ascribing “laziness, irresponsibility and callousness” on the part of the members of the Sangguniang Panglunsod for failing to act on the proposed 2011 city budget.

“The national budget and other local budgets of other local government units have already been passed except Dagupan. Up to when must we wait for the SP to act on our budget which has long been submitted for review and approval?” Lim asked.

He further lambasted the council members calling them “stupid” if they fail to justify their inaction.

He cited the urgency to augment funds for social services, particularly the city’s nutrition program and warned that 2,000 schoolchildren will remain malnourished if the city council fails to pass the budget.

“Hanggang kailan natin hihintayin ang SP? Hanggang sa kursunada na nila itong pag-usapan? What will happen sa mga bata?” Lim added.

He did not spare 4^th District Rep. Gina de Venecia from the flurry of tirades he unleashed.

Reacting to her statement to the local media recently, Lim said “Mali yung rason ni congresswoman. Ang ibig ba niyang sabihin maging aso at pusa tayo lagi?”

De Venecia was quoted to have said that people should have voted for those who belong to the same party to avoid “political shows” taking place in the city.

The majority in the council belonged to the ticket of former Mayor Al Fernandez Jr. who lost to Lim in the last election.

“In modern society, even enemies should talk and respect each other. If we cannot be civil, then puro itak at baril na lang ang hawak natin,” Lim said.

He accused the SP of having “misplaced priorities” as opposition.

“Kaya nga may opposition para may check and balance. Then (they) do the check and balance, but do not block or set aside the budget for personal reason because that is very irresponsible,” he added.

Denying that he has caused the delay in the passage of the budget owing to his “gag order”, the mayor said he encourages the SP to call his office “for any need to discuss, adjust or amend the budget.”

He went on to criticize the record of the city council asserting that all that the council had acted on expeditiously were self-serving with reference to the endorsement of the hotel project in Lucao being proposed by the CSI Group of Companies headed by Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez.

“When it comes to personal benefit, mabilis sila,” he exclaimed.

Lim warned “If they do not act on it still before the end of the year, let the people unmask them so Dagupeños will realize the kind of leaders they have elected into office,” Lim said. (With report from CIO)

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