Opposition does not understand budgeting rules – MBTF
THE seven members of the opposition slashed the proposed P599, 972.235.23 million supplemental budget to P43 million despite explanation from Mayor Belen Fernandez the difference between the annual budget and the supplemental budget.
The city mayor called out specifically, Councilor Redford Erfe-Mejia, as chairman of finance committee, for not knowing the difference after the latter explained that their move to slash the budget was justified in the face of the large amount of the approved annual budget still unspent.
Mayor Fernandez, who addressed the Dagupan sangguian earlier, invoked a provision in the Local Government Code and guidelines set by the Department of Finance.
“The supplemental budget seeks to finance programs and projects that are not provided for in the annual budget duly endorsed by the Local Development Council,” she pointed out.
She clarified that the proposed 2024 supplemental budget is a carry-over of both the 2023 and 2022 supplemental budgets that were rejected by the seven-majority in the sanggunian.
Foremost of the programs and projects to be funded by the 2024 supplemental budget are those that seek to solve the garbage problem of Dagupan, flood mitigation projects, ambulances and to ensure readiness of the city when a big earthquake will come.
“Hindi natin masolusyonan ang problema sa basura ng lungsod dahil sa hindi pagpasa sa supplemental budget na hiningi natin,” Fernandez said.
Excluded for funding were appropriations for the construction of roads, drainage systems in different barangays, construction of new school buildings and repair of dilapidated ones, construction of new covered court and repair of existing ones, purchase of backhoe, pay loader, five dump trucks and “garong” for use of the Waste Management Division, purchase of equipment and tools for the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, purchase of a land as site of a barangay hall, cost of site development of a Super Family Center in Malued, fencing and backfilling of the newly completed Super Family Health Center in Bolosab, furniture and equipment for the soon to be completed Angara Multi-purpose building in Bonuan Boquig, air-conditioning of the Super Family Health Center and of the Malimgas Market and Astrodome and others.
All seven members of the opposition voted to keep only 7% of the proposed supplemental budget. (Leonardo Micua)
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
