Escalante doubts passing of budget within 90 days

PROVINCIAL Board Member Salvador Escalante, chairman of the committee on Finance, said he is doubtful if the proposed 2013 provincial budget will be passed within 90 days.

He said that to push for marathon hearings about the budget may result into half-baked reports. Escalante said the committee is trying its best to finish the hearings.

The 2013 annual budget was referred back to the committee on Finance after it was disapproved by majority vote in the Provincial Board in December last year.

Based on the opinion from the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Provincial Board cannot tackle any other matter, except the disapproved budget, for the next 90 days.

Escalante said there are seven more departments and offices that have to be heard in the committee.

It can be recalled that the PB reached an impasse in the issue of the 2013 annual budget after board member Miller Serondo invoked Section 323 of the Local Government Code which stated that the PB cannot take up any other matter except the disapproved annual budget.

This was questioned by other members of the SP and the consensus reached was to get the opinion of the DILG on the matter.

In his letter to the PB, Jesus Duque of the DILG Legal Department said that the PB should continue to hold sessions until such appropriation ordinance is approved, and no other business may be taken up for 90 days.