THE defective annual budget enacted by the seven majority councilors in the Sangguniang Panlungsod and subsequent operation of the city government under the reenacted 2022 annual budget inflicted serious physical and emotional injuries on the city’s most impoverished sector that cannot be forgotten and forgiven.

In her State of the City Address (SOCA), Mayor Belen Fernandez last July 10, her first since she returned to power more than a year ago on July 1, 2022, blamed the seven majority members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod for the crimes committed against the people of Dagupan City.

The seven majority councilors are, Alvin Coquia, Redford Erfe-Mejia, Alfie Fernandez, Marilou Fernandez, Celia Lim, Irene Lim-Acosta and Librada Reyna-Macalanda .

Because of the deliberate delay in  approving the 2023 annual budget that was later declared “Inoperative in its entirety” by the Department of Budget and Management, she castigated them for:

1. Stopping 46 infrastructures projects that could greatly help ease flooding in 31 barangays.
2. Denying regular employees of the third tranche of scheduled salary increase.
3. Denying city government workers who retired from the service of their retirement benefits.
4. Stopping improvement in our barangays and schools for the city under the 20 percent development fund, particularly the construction of four school buildings and the repair and improvement of 15 covered courts.
5. Depriving city of services of additional garbage trucks, ambulance and all property equipment to boost public services.
6. Denying 2,500 scholars belonging to thousands of poor families of their scholarship.

And to add insult to injury, she said the resubmitted 2023 annual budget that was already due for second reading was shelved anew by the seven councilors by removing it from the agenda.

“Maski gaano po ang ating cash surplus, wala tayong maipasa na supplemental budget para makapaghatid ng bagong programa at proyekto,” Fernandez intoned.

“Kay tamis ang mga pangakong binitiwan nila (seven majoity councilors) noong kampanya, kay bilis din nilang lumimot ng katungkulan sa bayan,” she intoned.  (Leonardo Micua)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments