NO SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGETS

THE first session of the Sanggunian Panglunsod in 2024, January 2, was immediately adjourned because there was no submitted agenda for the 2024 annual budget.

And, as of January 5, the SP committee on finance, budget and appropriations has no schedule of committee hearings on the 2024 annual budget and list of department heads to be invited to discuss their respective proposed budgets to the secretariat, were submitted.

City Secretary Ryan Ravanzo told The PUNCH that Councilor Redford Erfe-Mejia, chair of the committee of finance, budget and appropriation, said he will submit the schedules of the committee hearings including the list of officials that need to be invited, in due time.

The Local Government Code provides that the Sanggunian cannot discuss any other matter in its session till the annual budget is passed till the last day of the calendar year, meaning December 31, 2023.

Mayor Belen Fernandez attempted to beat the deadline and called for special session six times but the majority boycotted the five.

The majority merely rejected the proposed supplemental budgets and their complimentary supplemental annual investment programs, and the 2023 proposed annual budget in the last special session.

Recall that last year, the seven majority councilors invoked their house rules that all committee hearings will be done on close door with only the seven majority councilors and the minority floor leader of the Sanggunian in attendance during committee hearings on the annual budget.

However, the minority floor leader is not given a speaking right nor a voting right during committee hearings.

Also Mayor Belen Fernandez was required to attend the committee  hearings to defend the proposed budget of the mayor’s office.

These same rules will be invoked by the majority in this year’s deliberations since these were never questioned for their perceived irregularities. (Leonardo Micua)

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