Provincial Board asked anew to approve budget

GOVERNOR Alfredo Marañon Jr. reiterated on Monday his appeal to the Provincial Board (PB) to approve the provincial budget, saying it will benefit the people of Negros.

Marañon said the bulk of the budget will go to the salaries, medicines and basic services for the people of Negros Occidental.

But Board Member Emilio Yulo III, who is one of the 10 members of the PB who disapproved the budget, said the basic services and all the projects of the Provincial Government can be delivered with the reenacted budget.

He said progressive provinces like Cebu and Iloilo have also experienced operating with the reenacted budget, and "these provinces continue to have progress."

Yulo said the PB is only trying to exercise its function to maintain check and balance in government.

He admitted though that the funds intended for the last tranche of salary increase and the additional P20,000 bonus for Capitol employees are not included in the reenacted budget. He said, however, that these employees' benefits would be given soon.

He said they have been subjected to attacks when PB used to approve the projects and requests of the executive, so now, they just want to have it corrected.

Marañon saw, however, the disapproval as politically motivated.

"We should only present our platform of government and our programs for the province. For those who believe, no explanation is needed. For those who don't believe at all, no explanation is possible," Marañon said.

He said he already asked the Department of Interior and Local Government and Department of Budget and Management to comment on the matter.

Marañon also said that he already submitted before the PB the specified programs for the 20 percent Provincial Development Fund attached to his motion for reconsideration on the disapproved budget. (TDE)