No more funds for consultants, EWs
DAGUPAN’S BUDGET DEFICIT
AFTER weeks of denying that the city government’s budget was suffering from a deficit in the first quarter alone, the truth is finally out and the emergency workers (EWs) and technical consultants in the payroll of the Dagupan government are the first to take the hit.
The city coffer no longer has funds to pay for their wages after May 15.
Acting Mayor Belen Fernandez, along with lawyer Farah Decano, her city administrator-designate, held meetings with the 914 consultants and EWs at the Dagupan City Astrodome last week to inform them one by one of the news.
“It is better that they know that they will soon be out so that they can find other jobs,” said Fernandez, who won as mayor in the May 13 election and will assume post by July 1.
She is currently on an acting capacity since May 16 after Mayor Benjamin Lim, her opponent in the election, suffered a stroke and has since been indisposed.
Fernandez underscored that she wants to begin her new administration showing transparency and honesty not only to the EWs but also the entire population of Dagupan.
She said Budget Officer Virgilio Tanco had explained to her that the problem arose when Mayor Benjamin Lim hired the consultants and EWs without consulting City Treasurer Romelita Alcantara about the availability of funds.
Nonetheless, Fernandez assured the workers that their wages from May 1 to 15 will still be paid.
EWs who will continue to serve until the end of the month upon the request of department heads to avoid disruption in operations will be paid using the minimal savings from personal services for the second quarter of the year.
NO SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET
The financial situation of Dagupan evidently became so precarious that it prompted Lim to submit a proposed supplemental budget seeking to appropriate P39 million from the P119 million realized by the city from the purchase of the MC Adore Hotel.
However, the proposed funding from the MC Adore sale will no longer be possible after the resolution that authorized Lim to negotiate the sale of MC Adore was declared null and void by the Regional Trial Court.
A financial summary released by City Accountant Teresita Manaois show that the 914 consultants and EWS are being paid a total of P6.9 million monthly, excluding the Cost of Living Allowances (COLA), bonuses and rice allowance quarterly.
The supplemental budget was on the agenda of the SP in last Monday’s session but no quorum was mustered with not enough councilors in attendance.
Fernandez said some councilors have indicated that they are opposed to spending the proceeds of the MC Adore sale to pay for the wages of unauthorized appointments of technical consultants and EWs.
The City Mayor’s Office has 69 technical consultants and 146 emergency workers; City Veterinary Office, 7; City Agriculture Office, 9; Anti-Hawking, 119; Astrodome, 11; Civil Registry, 6; City Engineers Office, 49; Barangay Health Nurse (care of City Health Office), 43; City Health Office, 29; City Information Office, 3; City Museum, 9; Tourism Office, 18; General Services Office, 23; Malimgas Market, 33; City Accounting Office, 7; City Budget Office, 3; City Library, 3; City Planning & Development Office, 2;
City Legal Office, 1; Coastal and River Protection, 17; COA, 2; Comelec, 8; PNP, 8; One Stop Business Center, 7; City Treasurer’s Office, 17; City Treasurer’s Office-Market, 12; City Assessors Office, 5; POSO, 40; City Social Welfare and Development Office, 18; Nutrition Office, 8; City Population Office, 5; Tondaligan, 23; Waste Management Division, 86; SP-Consultants, 21; and SP emergency workers 47.
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