Nalzaro: Check and balance or politics?

Sunday, February 5, 2012

IN OUR political setup, there are three branches of government. The executive department implements programs, while the legislative passes the budget and enacts laws. And then there’s the judiciary. They are co-equal.

In a local government unit, there are only two branches: the executive (office of the governor or mayor) and the legislative, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) or the Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan (City/Municipal Council).

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

They are also independent from each other. The executive proposes the budget, while the council approves it. Once a budgetary ordinance is approved, it is up to the executive to spend and disburse it, based on its intended purpose.

The Cebu City Council already approved several budgetary ordinances for spending in 2012. From the P11.8 billion proposed by the executive, the council only approved P5.2 billion, which alarmed some department heads. They were afraid this might affect their programs and tasks.

First to raise the alarm was the City Health Department, whose office chief said there might be a “health crisis” as a result of the budget slash. The General Services Office (GSO) also “cried foul.” The budget it proposed was P773.103 million, but it only got P345.105 million. Worse, the council ordered the GSO to seek its authorization before making any disbursement, such as in the purchase of fuel, oil and lubricants for City Hall vehicles.

However, Mayor Mike Rama said the ordinance itself is already an authority. Is the council dominated by members of Bando Osmena Pundok Kauswagan trying to control City Hall’s budget? This is the first time I heard the executive department being ordered to get council permission for any spending.

Once there’s an appropriation, the ball is in the court of the executive department. It can spend the amount as long as it complies with provisions of the ordinance.

I think Mike is right when he defied the council order. The least the council can do it to monitor the executive department spending under the principle of check and balance, but it cannot set conditions. Is the condition included in the ordinance? If it is, why was it included? Maybe because they are afraid the amount may be used by Mike to his political advantage?

Is buying oil, fuel and lubricants for City Hall vehicles and garbage collection a political undertaking? No. It’s part of basic services. This is another face of government bureaucracy. But we know the bottom line here is still politics because the council is being dictated by its political master. And you already know who this person is. Ato lang siyang taguon sa pangalang Rep. Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, south district).

***

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young is studying the possibility of legislating an ordinance that will ban elementary and high school students from participating in the Sinulog grand parade. Again, he cited the low grades in the National Achievement Test of students who participated in the celebration. I don’t know if Young has the figures to support his claim. How did the students who did not join the Sinulog do in the same test? Did they score better? If Young can show proof then we can consider his proposal. We will appreciate his concern for the students. But if not, he should keep his mouth shut.

The honorable vice mayor should also consider the possible implication of his proposal on out-of-town contingents. Most, if not all, of contingents used elementary and high school students as dancers. If Young’s proposal is passed, it will cover not only contingents from Cebu City, but also those from out-of-town. Now, who will participate if that’s the case? Hinanggaw ning imong plano, vice. Young pa gyud kag panghuna-huna.

(bobby.nalzaro@yahoo.com)