MAYOR Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar is thinking about exercising her power to veto the budget ordinance approved by the City Council on Tuesday, December 1, as it is not anymore the original executive budget her administration had rigorously planned and intended for 2021.

Salazar said this has been considered as the local legislative body, particularly the members of the majority bloc, altered, revised and amended certain provisions and/or allocations under the original executive budget primarily aimed at responding to concerns and challenges brought about by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

"It is no longer the budget that we intend for 2021," Salazar said, even as she thanked the city councilors who voted for the budget, the executive's version in particular.

The mayor said the budget ordinance will have to be forwarded to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for review of its operability.

"We will also make our own evaluation and review of the budget ordinance if it is balanced as required by DBM. If not, I will veto the measure to comply with the executive budget which was the result of the series of consultations with various stakeholders, department heads and many others," she said. (SunStar Zamboanga)