THE Dagupan Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), particularly the 7- member majority, has some explaining  to do to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) regional office when it inquired into the status of Proposed Supplemental Budget No. 1 before reviewing the approved Supplemental Budgets No. 2 and soon No. 3 .

DBM Regional Director Ria Bansigan of DBM regional office in San Fernando La Union  wrote SP: “This has reference to the 1st Indorsement dated 03 January 2023 signed by Mr. Ryan C. Ravanzo, City Secretary to the Sangguniang  Panlungsod, forwarding for review in accordance with Republic Act 7160 Appropriation Ordinance (AO) No. 2255-2022 titled “Approving the Proposed Supplemental Budget (PSB) No. 1 of the City of Dagupan for Calendar Year 2022.

“We have noted that AO approving PSB No. 1 for CY 2022 of that City is not yet submitted to the office for review. As such, may we respectfully request update on its status as the same may have implication on the effective review of the herein submitted AO.”

Supplemental Budget No. 1 was rejected by the seven-man majority of the SP after five public hearings and inviting eight resource speakers.

In reaction to the DBM letter, Councilor Redford Erfe-Mejia blamed City Secretary Ryan Ravanzo for the “confusion” over the status of the  Supplemental Budget No. 1.

He faulted Ravanzo for not following his manifestation of labeling Supplemental Budget No. 2 to Supplemental Budget No. 1 as, he said, this was the only supplemental budget passed that year (2022)”

Ravanzo replied: “I have not received a formal instruction from the chair… the final order should come from the presiding officer”.

Supplemental Budget No. 2 was passed on December 27, 2022 during the last regular session of the SP for the year. And, on December 29, Mayor Belen Fernandez called a special session of the SP for the purpose of passing Supplemental Budget No. 3 and to discuss other matters.

It was  only at the end of that December 29 special session when the finance, budget and appropriations committee, headed by Erfe-Mejia, submitted a committee report rejecting Supplemental Budget. No. 1.

Erfe-Mejia maintained that the seven-man majority has its own video recordings of all the sessions that will prove that his manifestation regarding the Supplemental Budget No.1 was made when Supplemental Budget No. 2 was being passed.

Discussion on the issue was cut short by Councilor and Minority Floor Leader Michael Fernandez who reminded his colleagues that no other matters can be discussed until the annual budget is passed.

The letter of DBM Regional Director Bansigan was read as part of the communications portion in the January 24 session’s agenda. (Leonardo Micua)

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