AIP has no legal infirmities – Mata
DAGUPAN City Administrator Vlad Mata has expressed confidence that the recent approval of the Local Development Council’s (LDC) P1.473 billion Annual Investment Plan (AIP) by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has no legal and procedural infirmities.
In a radio interview, last Monday, Mata belied claims by Councilor Maybelyn Fernandez that some of the recommendations presented were in violation of established budgeting rules.
“LDC members have reached a consensus among themselves,” he pointed out, adding that “the membership of the LDC as mandated by the Local Government Code is composed of all the city’s barangay captains, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Councilor Jesus Canto being the SP committee chair on appropriations.”
While not all of the SP members are part of the LDC, Mata said, “in order to ensure transparency, all of them were invited to take part during the deliberation process.”
“But only Councilors Brian Lim, Jess Canto, Red Erfe-Mejia, Alvin Coquia and Liga ng mga Barangay President Emong Vallejos showed up,” he said.
“What saddens me is that those who were absent are now telling that the AIP has legal infirmities,” he said.
The city hall press release erroneously quoted Mata saying that “Councilor Brian Lim was right in saying that the AIP is an annual plan which was projected through the CDP and CLUP as its backbone.”
However, the proceedings as recorded showed it was Lim who insisted that the submitted P1.4 B budget for the AIP covered a six-year period, not a 1-year period, when Fernandez pointed out that the AIP plan did not sync with the 2013 regular budget.
Mata also took exception to Councilor Jigs Seen’s allegation that some P10 million budget has been inserted for the privately-owned Centromart.
“It is very unlikely for us to fund a private property, and I do not see any good reason why they’re making that issue in public,” he said.
“That’s a lie.” he said, adding “it’s a good thing that we are here to explain all these things so that our constituents will be educated about this administration’s serious effort for their welfare.
Earlier, Councilor Canto challenged his critics and the minority in the city council to show that Centromart was specifically mentioned for a P10 M capital outlay in the AIP and if proven true, he would resign his post as chairman of the finance and appropriations committee.
A check by The PUNCH showed that, indeed, on page 76 of the submitted AIP, P10 M was listed as capital outlay for the “Construction of Water & Sewerage System” for “1.1. Public Markets, Centromart.” (With report from CIO)
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