TALISAY City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes has vetoed three ordinances, including one that provides annual allocations for barangay health workers (BHWs).
But members of the City Council overrode De los Reyes during their regular session.
De los Reyes opposed three ordinances filed by Talisay City Councilor Richard Francis Aznar.
These ordinances include asking the City to appropriate P500,000 for the annual celebration of Health Workers Day; P500,000 for the gratuity of BHWs; and P500,000 for insurance of BHWs and nutrition scholars.
The three ordinances said the P1.5 million will be sourced from the Office of the City Mayor’s budget, particularly under maintenance and operation expenses.
Appropriations
In his veto message issued last May 26, De los Reyes said the three ordinances violate the Local Government Code as the appropriations were not set under the executive budget for this year.
He said the ordinances are “ultra vires” acts meaning, beyond the council’s powers and are prejudicial to public welfare.
Session
During its regular session yesterday, the Talisay City Council approved to override the mayor’s veto on all three ordinances.
Aznar denied that the three ordinances were “ultra vires” because the programs had long been implemented before De los Reyes’ time.
BHWs
Aznar said he was merely trying to institutionalize the three ordinances to ensure that the programs for BHWs and nutrition scholars are maintained even if a new administration takes over.
He said providing gratuity and insurance to BHWs and nutrition scholars ensures assistance for barangay workers, who are considered front-liners of the government’s health programs.