AFTER P581M APPROVED BUDGET

THE Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) is reportedly not keen on approving a request by the executive department for a P10.06 million supplemental budget, just two weeks after the P581 million budget for 2012 of Dagupan was approved by the council.

Seven of the eight members of the majority of the SP reached this consensus when they met on closed doors last week as they were stunned by the request of the executive for a supplemental budget.

Councilor Alfie Fernandez said the SP would be contravening its own conditions incorporated in Ordinance No. 1975-2012 if it approves the request for a supplemental budget.

Vice Mayor Fernandez also pointed out that an approval may pose a problem with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) as the DBM has yet to review the city’s 2012 budget.

The request, contained in the 1st Endorsement dated March23, 2012 signed by Mayor Benjamin Lim, sought a P10.66 supplemental budget to cover additional outlay (non office) such as the Bangus Industry Promotion Program (Barangay Level), P6.8 million; Environmental and Sanitation Services Program (Support to Barangays), P3.1 million; and cost of additional outlay for Terminal Leave Pay under the Waste Management Division, P160,318.

As certified by City Treasurer Romelita Alcantara, the outlay will come from part of the reversion from the 1st quarter personal services savings of different offices in the city government in the amount of P6.1 million, and surplus from Calendar Year 2011 in the amount of P3.9 million.

Fernandez said that members of the majority in the SP led by Councilor Fernandez, chairman on laws and ordinances, are still studying the request but are not inclined to grant it.

They cited Section IV of Ordinance No. 1975-2012 that approved a P581 budget for Dagupan for 2012, which contained the condition that priority shall be given to the personnel benefits in the use of personal savings.

“We set this as a rule to ensure that any saving from personal services shall go to employees, in terms of their bonuses. Natatakot kami na baka pagdating ng Christmas, wala kaming maibibigay na bonuses sa mga empleyado,” Fernandez said.

Section II of Ordinance 1975-2012 also states: No ordinance providing for supplemental budget shall be enacted hereafter, except when supported by funds actually available as certified by the City Treasurer or by new revenue sources or in times of calamity pursuant to Sec. 21 of Republic Act7161 and Art. 417 (as amended by Administrative Order No. 47 dated April 12, 1993) of the Internal Rules and Regulations of RA 7160,

Hinting that P6.8 million will be used for the Bangus Festival and the P3.1 million might again be used to ensure the participation of barangays in the Gilon-Gilon Dancing as they did in 2011, Fernandez said that the executive should have included the proposed outlay in the proposed budget for 2012 because the activities cited are not new.

City hall observers believe the timing of the supplemental budget is a ploy to pressure the city council to approve more funds after succeeding in getting the budget approved without the attendance of the department heads.

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