Baguio: Mayor vetoes P20-M ‘car plan’ (11:20 a.m.)
By Jane Cadalig
BAGUIO CITY — Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. has vetoed the ordinance allotting almost P20-million for the car plan of City Council members as well as the offices of the mayor and vice-mayor.
“After reading the exact words used in the ordinance, I have no recourse but to veto it since a car plan is not possible,” Bautista told reporters Wednesday, adding the procedures adopted in passing the ordinance was doubtful.
He stressed that the car plan, indicated in the ordinance as a priority project, does not conform to government auditing and accounting procedures. The Council passed on second and final reading the controversial ordinance during their regular session last November 12.
While admitting that he already knew of the Council’s plan to procure vehicles to help them in the discharge of their official functions, Bautista said, “there are other ways of purchasing vehicles than a car plan.”
The mayor said he has no objection to the desire of the Council to procure cars to help them with their duties.
“Who am I to say what is a priority for them and what is not. If they think purchasing a vehicle is a pressing need, then so be it. But a car plan is entirely a different concept since this means you could own the vehicle later on, which is not possible in government accounting procedures,” he said.
Bautista added he would leave it to the Council’s discretion if the latter would decide to override his veto. “It would now be up to them, since I could not veto an override anymore.” <b>(Sun.Star Baguio/Sunnex)</b>
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