Thursday, December 14, 2006 DavNor okays supplemental budget 3 in record time
TAGUM CITY -- The Provincial Board of Davao del Norte approved in record time the province's Supplemental Budget 3 (SB3) of 2006 in the amount of P48 million.
The immediate approval was conducted under suspended rules, eliminating the need for the three-reading principle as required in the board's internal house rules.
Governor Gelacio Gementiza transmitted SB3 to the board on Monday morning and it was immediately calendared for first reading at 2 p.m. of the same day despite the late submission.
According to Vice Governor Anthony del Rosario, "since the governor transmitted his SB3 to the board just a few hours before the start of the session, our house rules state that the said item should be calendared during the following session, which in this case would be on December 18."
"Fortunately for the people of Davao del Norte, we have a Provincial Board that is dedicated to serving its constituents even if it means working overtime. Thus it was unanimously agreed by all members present to certify the measure as urgent, and I am truly grateful for their support," del Rosario said.
In addition, some board members noted that the deadline for obligation requests in the province is on December 18 as determined by the governor through an executive order.
"SB3 needs to be approved as soon as possible so that expenditures under this budget can be obligated prior to the cut off date. Every single day that we delay the approval of SB3 would mean risking the non-implementation of important items on the budget such as the extra cash gift to all capitol employees, the additional yearend cash gift given to all Barangay Health Workers and Day Care Workers, and the yearend cash gift given to all Barangay Officials, just to name a few," Provincial Board Member Alan Zulueta stressed.
Del Rosario, who is also the board's chair of the Committee on Finance, Budget and Appropriations, sponsored the ordinance approving SB3 while Board Member Hernanie Duco presided over the session.
Prior to the final approval of the ordinance, several amendments were introduced by the vice governor.
"We needed to make some adjustments to the governor's proposed budget since he overlooked some very important items," del Rosario said.
One such item, he said, is the province's counterpart for the construction of BE Dujali's new municipal hall.
"It seems that the governor might have forgotten his promise to BE Dujali Mayor Gregorio Facula and the other municipal officials that the province would provide a counterpart of P2 million for the construction of their new municipal hall," he said.
"Another item that the governor overlooked was the medical and death benefits for barangay officials and functionaries. He failed to provide additional funds for the program despite the fact that he was already informed several weeks ago by our FABC president, Board Member Nieljun Esdrelon, that the initial fund of P300,000 was already exhausted. As such, the board included an amount of P1 million for this purpose," del Rosario explained.
Del Rosario said the appropriation ordinance will take effect once the governor affixes his signature on the ordinance. (BOT)
