|
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Governor snubs province's budget hearing
By Marna H. Dagumboy
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio on Monday snubbed the Provincial Board's (PB) budget deliberation for 2008, which disappointed the majority of the legislative body.
Panlilio went to Gugu creek for inspection and instead sent assistant provincial legal officer Joseph Quiambao to attend the budget hearing and defend the proposed allocation for the executive department and its units.
Post your comments here on the Makati siege
The PB led by Vice Governor Joseller Guiao has aired its disappointments over Panlilio's decision not to attend the budget deliberation, which the governor scheduled due to the "ejection" of his representatives last Wednesday.
The governor apologized Monday to the PB for his failure to attend the budget hearing.
Guiao said Panlilio did not even state any reason for not attending the scheduled hearing, adding that Quiambao, as his (Panlilio) representative, could not answer or defend questions like the proposed budget of the Biyaya a Luluguran at Sisikapan (Balas), the committee in charge of quarry tax collection.
The vice governor said the proposed budget for Balas amounting to P45 million is bigger than the internal revenue allotment (IRA) of towns like Sasmuan, Sta. Ana, San Luis among others, which Panlilio should have to defend.
"The budget is an important piece of legislation. The budget hearing is not just a presentation, the governor should justify it," Guiao said.
When asked if Panlilio's absence at the budget hearing could add to the political rift between the legislative and executive departments, Guiao said if Panlilio attended the hearing, he could have settled once and for all the other differences with the PB.
First district Board Member Crisostomo Garbo said if the governor really promotes transparency, accountability, and good governance, he should have attended and faced the PB to justify the budget of his office and other units under it.
"Why not face us instead of sending a representative who doesn't know how to defend or justify the proposed budget of the governor's office and other units?" Garbo asked.
During the hearing, third district Board Member Johnny Quiambao also expressed his disappointment over Panlilio's non-attendance, which he described as "discourteous" to the PB.
Panlilio admitted confirming his attendance to the budget hearing to defend the executive department's proposed budget.
However, he said he was advised not to attend by his allies, as there has been no single instance in the Philippines where the chief executive -- be it the President, governor or mayor -- personally defended his or her budget.
"We extend our apologies to Vice Governor Joseller Guiao and the honorable members of the Board if they were offended by my absence this morning at the special session we requested for the presentation and defense of the executive budget. There was no intention whatsoever to offend, much less to disrespect the August body," Panlilio said.
Despite the PB's disappointment, Vice Governor Guiao said the PB will make it a point to finish the deliberation of the budget -- amounting to P1.1 billion, before the end of the month or early next year. (Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (December 18, 2007 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Gun of ‘drive-by shooter’ tied to 3 more slays