Tuesday, January 15, 2008 Vice mayor delaying Angeles’s budget for 2008? By Reynaldo G. Navales
ANGELES City Council Majority Leader Agapito del Rosario has claimed that the 2008 executive budget was already approved by majority of the city councilors and will be on its way to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
Del Rosario said only Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting was delaying the budget's approval, which is needed for the proper implementation of programs and delivery of basic services for the Angeleños.
In a press statement, del Rosario lashed at Vega-Cabigting, alleging that the vice mayor had erred when she called for a two-thirds vote for the passage of the budget ordinance when "mere majority can decide on the issue at hand."
The 2008 executive budget, del Rosario said, was already approved when majority numbering seven voted for its passage. Four councilors voted against it while one councilor abstained from the proceedings.
Del Rosario is certain that as far as the Local Government Code is concerned, the executive budget is already approved and is on its way to the DBM.
He said that code's Article 107, it is stated that "No ordinance or resolution passed by the council in a regular or special session duly called the purpose
shall be valid unless approved by a majority of the members present, there being a quorum. Any ordinance or resolution authorizing or directing the payment of
money or creating liability, shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of all the council members for its passage."
The councilor explained that the two-thirds vote numbering eight being asked by Vega-Cabigting does not apply to the approval of executive budget.
"Two-thirds vote is necessary only if you will override the veto coming from the mayor which in this situation is not necessary," according to del Rosario.
"Seven councilors constitute the majority of an absolute vote and therefore carry the approval of the ordinance. An absolute majority consists of the total number of city councilors and simple majority consists only of those present at the session when passing ordinances or resolutions," he said.
Del Rosario has also reminded the vice mayor that being the presiding officer of the council she "should just act as moderator."
"If she would like to participate in the argument or debate, she can step down temporarily and assign someone to facilitate. Disapproving the executive budget, without further giving the benefit of explaining the basis for the decision and even if with a majority vote affirming the approval of the budget, is an abuse of discretion," he said.
The 2008 executive budget amounting to P986, 218,017.01 million failed to get the approval of the City Council despite the presence of majority members of the administration councilors during the session last January 8 amid the alleged maneuverings of Vega-Cabigting "to the consternation of City Hall employees.
