|
Saturday, December 11, 2004
Cebu Capitol budget sunk in new try
By Minerva B. Gerodias
CEBU CITY -- Capitol's proposed budget for 2004 failed to win the Provincial Board's approval Friday, a defeat that also signals rough sailing ahead for the 2005 budget.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia's allies lacked one more vote for the 2004 budget to sail through during a special session, and with it a special incentive of about P12,000 for each Capitol employee.
Budget and appropriations committee chairman Gabriel Luis Quisumbing moved for the budget's passage, as amended, on second and third reading, but abstained when it was time to vote.
PB Member Victor Maambong said it was unparliamentary and ungentlemanly for Quisumbing to sponsor the ordinance and "ultimately abandon it in the end."
"This is the first time. It's without precedence. When you move for approval, that means you are convinced of the merit of the proposal," Maambong said.
Seven members of the PB voted for the budget: Teresita Celis, Alfie Ouano, Martin Calderon, Victor Maambong, Antonio Almirante Jr., Carmiano Kintanar and Juan Bolo.
1 more vote
Three were against, namely, PB Members Victoria Corominas, Estrella Yapha and Raul Bacaltos.
Of those who voted in favor of the budget's passage, only Bolo is allied with the opposition.
Three of the board's 15 members were absent: Rosemarie Durano, Agnes Magpale and Jose Mari Gastardo.
Since Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr. was on leave, PB Member Joven Mondigo presided over the proceedings and could not vote, except in a tie.
Although the budget got a majority of seven votes out of the 11 present, Mondigo ruled that it was not passed because his stand is that the budget needs an absolute majority for it to be approved.
A debate is ongoing on whether the absolute majority in the PB is eight votes or nine. It would be nine if then vice governor is counted.
"Maybe it's time for the board to settle it once and for all to clarify everything. All future actions will be dependent on what is agreed upon," Governor Garcia said.
Slashed
Last Monday, Quisumbing resubmitted an old committee report of the previous board, which reduced the proposed P1.28-billion 2004 budget to P1.062 billion.
Almirante presented Friday further amendments to the slashed 2004 budget, including:
* retention of the subsidy to local government units (P60 million);
* development assistance project funds for local government units (P15 million); and
* funds for the drug abuse program (P5 million).
In the report, Quisum-bing reduced these items to P1,000.
Almirante also proposed that instead of reducing the P60-million budget for the improvement of provincial roads and bridges to P1,000, it will just be slashed to P30 million.
Quisumbing then moved for the approval on second and third reading of the 2004 budget, but he abstained when the board voted.
Quisumbing explained he had voiced his opposition to the amendments Almirante presented.
Clear plot?
But since these amendments got a majority vote of those present, he had no choice but to present the budget to the floor for the body to decide.
"The body has to decide considering the urgency of the measures and the differing opinions. The best recourse is to divide the house. But I have expressed my objections to the amendments, that's why I abstained," Quisumbing explained.
He added that after Friday's session, the PB can now focus on the P1.8-billion proposed 2005 budget, which is still in his committee for review.
Another PB member was not as pleased.
"What I saw was a clear manifestation of a plot already hatched. They were in a hurry to submit it to the ruling of the chair knowing our number. The ruling was already prepared. Maybe in the long run, he (Quisumbing) would learn that there are merits to parliamentary rules. These are actually based on courtesy and dignity. That practice should not be condoned," Maambong added.
Governor Garcia said she has nothing to act upon because of the failure of the board to pass the 2004 budget.
"The ruling is it was not passed, so there's nothing for me to act upon. Let's not over extend the powers of the executive. I can only veto or approve passed resolutions and ordinances, as defined under the Local Government Code," Garcia said.
Bonus doomed
With the development, Capitol employees might not be able to get their collective negotiation agreement (CNA) bonus of P12,000 each, the main reason the attempt to pass the 2004 budget was revived.
Employees' association president Diosdado Cayme and some PB members believe that the CNA incentive can be released even without a regular budget, because part of a letter from the Department of Budget and Management Central Office stated that the CNA bonus is "a form of personnel benefit."
But Governor Garcia studied the letter and said Cayme and some of the PB members have taken it out of context.
The letter agrees with the opinion rendered by its regional office that the bonus "could not be automatically effected without a new appropriation ordinance that will support the supplemental budget."
Infighting in the Capitol forced the Provincial Government to operate this year using the reenacted 2003 budget.
(December 11, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Gunman kills activist, wounds 4 other rallyists