Seen: OK but no fund for it
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET
THE majority members of Sangguniang Panglunsod (SP) have clarified that they are not opposed to the granting of a P10-million supplemental budget for the Bangus Festival since part of this will go to the barangays, but stressed that the money can not be sourced from the savings on personnel services, which must accrue to the benefits of personnel of the city government.
Councilor Jeslito Seen, chairman on finance of the SP, said if the Local Finance Committee (LFC) headed by City Administrator Vladimir Mata can point to a source of funding for the requested supplemental budget other than personnel savings, he will recommend the measure for approval by the body.
Mayor Benjamin S. Lim and officials of the city government reportedly met Thursday night on the eve of the Bangus Festival opening to discuss to identify other possible sources of funds, other than personnel savings, that could be tapped.
The requested P10 million supplemental budget seeks to cover P6.8 million for Bangus Promotion (Barangay Level); P3.1 million for environmental management of the barangays at P100,000 per barangay; and P160,000 for additional terminal leave pay in the Waste Management Division.
Meanwhile, the Liga ng mga Barangay, through Councilor Guillermo Vallejos, is also asking for another P7 million to be used by the 31 barangays in the Bangus Festival at P250,000 per barangay.
City Treasurer Romelita Alcantara earlier certified that the requested supplemental budget can only be sourced partly from the reversion of the first quarter personnel service savings in the amount of P65.1 million; and partly from surplus of 2011 budget in the amount of P3.9 million.
Based on the SP’s position, the only available legitimate source would be the surplus budget of P3.9 million.
Reportedly being eyed as another source of funding is the P10 million allocation for tourism reportedly held in reserve for an unspecified programs or projects.
Seen reiterated the view earlier expressed by Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, SP chair, that savings realized by the city government from unfilled positions can only be used for the benefit solely of city hall personnel, not for a supplemental budget.
He said this was provided for in Section IV of City Ordinance No. 1975-2012.
“We cannot go against our own ordinance, otherwise we are liable to the law and the people,” Seen said.
He said this rule is supported by Sec. 336 of the Local Government Code.
Seen again echoing the vice mayor’s earlier query, he asked why city hall is asking for a supplemental budget when the sanggunian approved the P581 million budget proposed by the executive department without any cut.
“The executive should have included the items in the embodied now in the planned supplemental budget in the proposed regular budget it submitted to the SP for approval,” Fernandez said.
She expressed apprehension over what might be the reaction of the Department of Budget and Management if it finds itself being made to review the supplemental budget of P10 million and another P7 million from the Dagupan City government even before it could finish the review of the approved budget of P581 million.
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