Gwen OK with PB checking on budget

CEBU Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia did not see any problem with the move of the Provincial Board (PB) to examine the items in her proposed supplemental budget (SB).

“Well, they should. That is their duty, di ba? Sa una diay di nila i-examine (Before, didn’t they bother to inspect budget items?),” she said.

The governor said it is the reason why a proposal is submitted before the PB.

The P271.965 million proposed SB of the governor reached the PB last Sept. 3.

Garcia attended the 5th Charter Day celebration of the City of Naga yesterday, where Mayor Valdemar Chiong delivered his State of the City Address (Soca).

In his Soca, Chiong criticized the former allies of Gov. Garcia in the PB for defecting to the Liberal Party (LP).

He made the criticism while introducing the city councilors, whom he hopes would not leave him.

In an interview, Chiong said, he criticized the defection of some PB members to LP despite the number of years that they have shared under the One Cebu party.

“It’s a reality when it comes to politics. But, what made it hurtful is that the governor had placed these people in her party for so many years,” Chiong said in Cebuano.

Rep. Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, third district), the governor’s brother who also attended the celebration in Naga yesterday, urged the PB not to play politics in checking the proposed SB of his sister.

He said it is not the governor who will suffer, but the people of Cebu.

Pablo John’s reaction came after PB members, majority of them allied with LP, said that the examination will focus on the item that intends to give P55-million financial assistance to different local government units as well as the item on “P5 million
donation” in the supplemental budget.

Pablo John, who is gunning for the gubernatorial post in next year’s elections, said he is having doubts on the lawmakers’ motive.

“Before, the budget would be passed without any problem or hitch. Pero karon, unsa may nausab? Wala man mausab ang (But now, are there any changes? There were no changes in the) budget (as) the governor regularly submits the budget and supplemental budget.

It’s the silly season of politics,” he said.

Pablo John said that he is confident that the more reasonable people in the PB will see that if they introduce politics in the examination of the budget, the people of Cebu will suffer from their politicking.

Pablo John hopes that the PB will consider the welfare of the people of Cebu above any political motives.

Some PB members have seen the possible delay in the passage of the governor’s proposed supplemental budget. If this will happen, the bonus of 1,576 Capitol personnel, amounting to P23.64 million for their collective negotiation agreement and the P16.22 million for their performance incentive will be affected.

PB Member Peter John Calderon, however, assured that they will not cause any inconvenience to the people in the passage of the supplemental budget.