COUNCILOR Michael Fernandez, minority floor leader of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, said too much politics played by the seven majority councilors made Dagupan City and its people suffer a man-made calamity never seen before in the 76-year history of the city.

Fernandez was reacting to the letter of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) that declared the 2023 annual budget of P864.3 million passed by the seven majority councilors on March 28, 2023 “inoperative in its entirety”.

A text message by PUNCH reporter Ahikam Pasion to Councilor Redford Erfe Mejia asking his reaction, did not get a reply as pf presstime,

“Since we are celebrating our 76th anniversary on June 20, it is only now after 76 long years that we have an annual budget that is inoperative in its entirety,”  said Fernandez, fuming mad against the majority councilors for denying  the  people of Dagupan the services and projects that they deserve.

He said the minority will raise the issue for the passage of the mayor’s executive budget in its entirety and went to clarify that since the very beginning, the minority and Vice Mayor Bryan Kua had been very vocal in opposing what the majority did to the annual budget.

But when reminded that the majority may not let this pass without again conducting endless committee hearings, Fernandez admitted that could be true and they will be inflicting more damage to their city and people just for their petty politics .

But despite the possibility of what the majority might do again, Fernandez said he and his fellow minority members, Councilors Jeslito Seen, Dennis Canto, Marcelino Fernandez and  Joshua Bugayong, have recommended to Mayor Fernandez to resubmit her executive budget to the SP.

Asked if the administration of Mayor Fernandez is considering to file administrative and criminal cases against the seven majority councilor for passing an “inoperative budget” Councilor Fernandez said Mayor Fernandez and City Legal Officer Aurora Valle are already seriously considering to file the cases but any taxpayer can also file because the matter involves public funds for services and projects.

As to the absence of all members of the majority seven in the June 13 session, following their no-show last June 6, Fernandez said the majority seven’s no-show in the June 13 session was intentional, deliberate and uncalled for. He said their absence again prevented the minority to move that the State of the City Address (SOCA) be scheduled.

Mayor Fernandez is set to deliver her SOCA on June 20, coinciding with the 76th anniversary of Dagupan, a special non-working public holiday in the city. (Leonardo Micua)

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