THE Sangguniang Panlungsod is losing patience over Mayor Benjamin Lim’s continued refusal to allow city hall officials to appear before the council to clarify issues that will help expedite the passage of the proposed 2012 budget for Dagupan.

“In the spirit of transparency and in accordance with President Benigno Aquino III’s advocacy for ‘Tungo sa Matuwid Na Daan’, the people must not be kept in the dark on what is really happening in the city,” said Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, presiding officer of the SP.

Belen warned that the SP could not move forward with the deliberation on the budget if certain matters are not clarified first.

“Is the executive office hiding something?  Is this why it plugged the mouths of department heads …so that they will not say what is really happening?” Fernandez asked.

Fernandez said the mayor can only blame himself if the approval of the proposed P581 million budget for 2012 will again be delayed with further cuts.

“How can we approve a new budget if some lingering questions are left unanswered?” she said.

Among the pending questions involve the mushrooming of illegal structures being operated as “resorts” on public-owned land at the beach in Bonuan Binloc and the reported proliferation of “hataw” gambling machines in the same barangay.

Fernandez said the council also needs to find out why some P88 million worth of properties bought by the city ostensibly as sites for school, market and other purposes remain unregistered in the name of the city.

A specific case was raised by resident Leonarda Ceralde from Bonuan Binloc as she noted that the donation for a school lot made by her family several years ago still has not been placed under the city’s ownership.

Those invited to clarify the issues were City Administrator Mata, City Treasurer Romelita Alcantara, OIC City Assessor Alan Dale Zarate and Engr. Romeo Rosario, head of the task force in charge of inventory of government properties.

Mata and Tourism Officer Rosemarie Teng-Mejia have also been repeatedly invited to explain the status of the completed ‘Daongan Ed Dawel’ project since it did not undergo public bidding as admitted by Mayor Lim himself in several media interviews.

Lim issued a memorandum last October 4 reiterating his order last year that no department head can appear before the SP without his approval.

Fernandez said all invitations from the SP are being coursed through the mayor’s office as the mayor requested.

She branded Lim’s memorandum as nothing but a “gag order”, the same tactic earlier used by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is currently facing several plunder cases, for Congressional inquiries.

“This virtually cut off the umbilical cord that used to bind the SP and the executive department,” Fernandez lamented.

The vice mayor noted that heads of national government agencies in the province and in the city, who are not under the mayor, have honored the council’s invitations and have cooperated in the discussion of issues.

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