SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET NO. 2-2024 NIXED

DAGUPAN Mayor Belen Fernandez appeared before the Sangguniang Panlungsod last Tuesday (June 25) to appeal anew to the seven majority councilors to finally pass the long delayed P557-M Supplemental Budget No. 2-2024 that she said is badly needed for disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, health programs and waste management

The mayor’s almost one-hour appeal not only again fell on deaf ears but the majority’s defiance was underscored by two majority councilors who dozed off in the middle of the mayor’s address.

Councilor Redford Erfe-Mejia initially objected to the privilege being extended to the mayor to address the city council on the invitation of Minority Leader Michael Fernandez but was overruled by Vice Mayor-presiding officer Bryan Kua who invoked Article 455 of the Local Government Code that on urgent matters, the city chief executive can address the Sanggunian.

Before she spoke, the sanggunian was discussing the committee report of Councilor Alvin Coquia entitled “Adopting Comprehensive  Policies and Guidelines in the Conduct of Pre-Emptive Measures in Times of Calamities, Whether Man-Made or Natural and Declaring Every Third Week of July of Every Year as Disaster Preparedness Week in the City of Dagupan”

Minority Floor Leader opposed the measure because he said it is a duplication of a comprehensive disaster preparedness ordinance providing for a disaster preparedness month for the whole month of July, and the committee report’s call “additional two (2) ambulances is a must” cannot be met unless the supplemental budget is approved.

The majority countered that the two ambulances should be requested from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

After the discussion, Mayor Belen, in her speech, reiterated the importance of the passage of the pending supplemental budget that covers the purchase of ambulances and rescue equipment for the CDRRMC, more dump trucks and equipment for waste management, more school buildings, more barangay roads to be elevated, the purchase a lots for a barangay hall, day care center and Super Family Health Center.

She reminded the councilors that Supplemental Budget No. 2-2024 is a carry-over of Supplemental Budget No. 1 2024, Supplemental Budget No. 2023, and Supplemental Budget No. 1-2022, which were all rejected by the SP majority.

In the session hall besides every city legislator were members of the Manlingkor ya Kalangweran.

The majority bloc proceeded to pass Coquia’s ordinance over Mayor Fernandez’s appeal to hold the proposed ordinance in abeyance.

The committee hearing conducted by the SP majority after the session, asked the executive department to submit the programs of work of all projects to be funded by the supplemental budget, a move that Councilor Fernandez described as another obvious dilatory tactic. (Leonardo Micua)

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