|
Sunday, March 07, 2004
Tupas: Budget not for campaign fund
By Nanette L. Guadalquiver
* Armada dares Tupas to forego his request for approval of the P58.3-million supplemental budget until after the elections so that the public will not doubt his motives
* But Tupas says, "He's the only one suspecting us. It's just his opinion"
ILOILO Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. dismissed the claims of Vice Gov. Roberto Armada that the P58.3-million supplemental budget he requested will be used as his campaign fund.
"Gina-akusahan niya ako nga gamiton ina sa pulitika. Indi ina 'ya (He's accusation is not true)," Tupas said in a radio interview.
Armada tagged the Supplemental Budget No. 1 as Tupas' "supplemental campaign budget" considering the timing of the request.
"It will be used for political purposes," he said.
The vice governor questioned the urgency in the budget's approval, even prompting the governor to request for a special session Friday to have it deliberated and approved.
The board members, however, agreed to refer the request to the committee on appropriations headed by Tupas' runningmate 3rd District Board Member Vicente Ramirez, who will conduct a hearing on the budget request on Monday, 9 a.m.
The amount is the surplus of last year's budget, which Tupas requested to be used for Supplemental Budget No. 1.
"It's either they are really good managers or it's meant for them to make money," Armada said.
Of the P58.3 million, the highest appropriations are for terminal leave pay of employees (non-office), P3.311 million; illumination, P4.925 million; telephone, P1.94 million; security services, P1.092 million; and janitorial services, P1.65 million.
Under the Governor's Office, the highest appropriation is for the allowances of barangay health workers, barangay service point officers and day care workers, P12.465 million. There is also the subsidy for local government units (LGUs) of P5.87 million.
The office of Provincial Administrator also requested for a P400,000 funding for advertising expenses.
The office of Economic Enterprises requested for a separate budget for its employees' terminal leave pay of P2.615 million.
Under the Special Account from 20 percent of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) requests are for the construction of Iloilo Rehabilitation Center, P6.433 million; P6 million for two items for IRA 20 percent Development Fund; sports development, P4 million; roads and bridge development, P2 million; P1.150 million, 20 percent development projects; and P750,000, real property assessment.
Patronage fund
According to Armada, the subsidy for LGUs is a "patronage" fund as well as the fund for sports development.
We can expect basketball courts to sprout all over, he said.
The vice governor also questioned Tupas' move to make use of the surplus in just a single supplemental budget.
"Why is it that this early, there is request for that amount. What if something will happen in the later part of the year that would need an appropriation?" he said.
Challenge
Armada challenged Tupas to forego his request for approval of the Supplemental Budget No. 1 until after the elections so that the public will not doubt his motives.
But Tupas said, "He's the only one suspecting us. It's just his opinion. Wala pa namon mahimo, napinsar niya na nga himuon namon (We haven't even done it, yet he thinks we will do it)."
The governor said he does not give out projects and tell the beneficiaries to vote for him.
He said it is part of his job as governor to provide projects.
Tupas justified the P12.465 million appropriation for the allowances of barangay volunteers, saying they have been clamoring for such benefit for years now.
"It will still be deliberated by the Provincial Board. It's up to them to approve it or not," he said.
(March 6, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
