Majority bloc bucks DBM’s decision on 2023 annual budget
DESPITE the declaration of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) that the appropriations ordinance enacting the P1.3 billion annual budget of Dagupan as “operative in its entirety”, the majority bloc in the Sangguniang Panlungsod continues to question the passage of the same “not by a qualified majority, but by a simple majority”.
This, despite the letter of DBM Regional Ria Bansigan on November 30, 2023 addressed to Vice Mayor and Sanggian Presiding Officers Bryan Kua and the Sangguniang Panlungsod clearly that AO No. 2274-2023 has the presumption of validity, which was followed up by her another letter the next day that declared the same AO as “operative in its entirety”.
Erfe-Mejia referred to the Bansigan’s letter as a mere opinion of DBM.
“What’s the required number of vote for the passage of an appropriations ordinance? Is it a simple majority or a qualified majority?,” Erfe-Mejia, repeatedly posed the question to Vice Mayor Kua, and Councilor and Minority Floor Leader Michael Fernandez.
Vice Mayor Kua retorted: “Hindi ko na lang po kailangang sagutin. Pakibasa na lang po, referring to the letter of Director Bansigan to the SP dated November 30, 2023.”
For his part, Councilor Fernandez also urged Erfe-Mejia to read pages 3 and 4 of Director’s Bansigan’s communication that cite the voting requirement.
But Erfe-Mejia was not listening and directed his question to Kua and Fernandez.
In the end, Councilor Fernandez cited the records of the city secretary that during the passage of AO No. 2274-2023 on September 23, 2023, there were only nine members present and that the ordinance was passed without any objection from the four members of the majority present.
At that time, three members of the majority—Celia Lim and her daughter Irene Lim-Acosta, and Alfie Fernandez were vacationing abroad.
Erfe-Mejia cited a recent decision of the Supreme Court in the Municipality of Corilla versus PhilKonstruk, that stated in part that in appropriations ordinance, the required number of vote is qualified majority of all the members whether present or absent.
Fernandez also repeated his response to directing Erfe-Mejia to DBM’s communications to the SP on November 30 and December 1, 2023. (Leonardo Micua)
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