BSL vetoes city budget partially
AS EXPECTED, Mayor Benjamin Lim stamped a partial veto on Dagupan City’s 2011 annual budget as approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP).
The SP-approved budget was P487 million, lower by P81 million than the P568 million proposed by the mayor.
In his 10-page veto letter sent to the SP on March 31, Lim invoked Section 55 of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Code of 1991, contending that the legislative enactment “is ultra vires or prejudicial to public welfare”.
Lim said the approved budget, contained in Ordinance No. 1963-2001, was “inexplicably and drastically reduced” by the council.
In justifying his partial veto on the budget ordinance, the mayor said his approval would have been tantamount to “an abdication of his role as the city’s Chief Executive” since it is obvious that the SP exercised its function whimsically and capriciously.”
Lim charged that the SP “masochistically” slashed the city’s annual budget without explaining their reduction, stressing that when the ordinance was passed, “there was no coherent, intelligent and logical explanation coming from any member of the SP as to the reason for the reduction”.
The veto message also pointed out that the veto does not cover Section II which approved the total estimated income of P568 million, and Section III covering all allocations for Personal Services, including statutory services authorized by a budget circular of the Department of Budget.
The items that were vetoed were the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) of the Office of the City Mayor, Waste Management Division, and the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO), which were reduced by P23.5 million, and the capital outlay for the City Budget Office and POSO which were reduced by P150,000.
The veto also covered non-office accounts in the office of the city executive, which were reduced by P25 million and other programs whose budgets were wholly reduced or those which, he added, were inexplicably given a zero budget.
Also vetoed by Lim was a new item found in Section VII (e) City Ordinance No. 1961-2010 appropriating P100,000 to the Dagupan City Blood Council which, he said, was inserted by the sanggunian.
In vetoing this section, Lim cited Article 415(a) of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA No. 7160 which states that the local sanggunian may not increase the proposed amount of the executive budget nor include new items except to provide statutory and contractual obligations.
Lim noted that in Section VII (b), the SP authorized the amount of P56,626,380 under the 20 percent development fund but stated that “the details and breakdown of expenditures x x x is not authorized and shall be subject to further review and approval by the SP.”
SP PLAN
Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, chair of the SP, said the council members will meet to discuss their response to the partial veto.
Some members of the majority group initially suggested to consult with the Department of Budget and Management regional office before taking any action.
Fernandez refuted Lim’s charge that the council acted “capriciously and whimsically” on the budget, stressing that members “carefully and diligently studied the proposal” submitted by city hall.
Under the law, the SP can override the mayor’s veto through a vote of two-third of the members of the council.
With 12 members, at least eight votes will be needed to do so. There are eight councilors belonging to the majority.
Last year, the SP overrode the mayor’s veto on an approved tricycle ordinance and the majority group said they can do it again since they still have the number.
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