I WAS curious how much budget the Angeles City Government operates, so I called on Vice Mayor Vicky Vega Cabigting and queried how much is the approved budget for next year. Vice Mayor Cabigting, who is so precise in almost anything, texted me the exact amount, which is P2,704,789,832. It was passed just a week ago November 16.
According to Vega Cabigting, the Sanggunian Panglunsod rolled its sleeves and the members unanimously supported its passage “because it has its confidence on Mayor Carmelo Pogi Lazatin Jr. that the approved amount will be carefully utilized for the upliftment of the Angelenos.” Vega Cabigting is at her best when she working with a team and no wonder all laid out plans are ensured of success. (Btw. I heard those and plans and corresponding reports when I was guest in one special occasion where Mayor Pogi, IC Calaguas and Reina Manuel where present. I took advantage of that occasion to launch my second book).
This year, budget proposal is not a small amount to sneeze at. In these last two years that Mayor Pogi is at the helm, observers took notice that that the taxpayers’ money is well spent. Addressing the pandemic was his strong point. What was promised was delivered. The building of a tertiary hospital and upgrading of the City College of Angeles are now out of the drawing board.
I have several experiences first hand with Mayor Pogi. First, when we hit the campaign trail in 2013 and second, when we served both as a member of the City Council until 2016. Since he assumed office, after his sworn to office after he emerged winner in a three cornered mayoral race, he hit the ground running, so to speak. He has passion, optimism and dedication.
I wish each of the candidates gunning for membership in the City Council all the luck in the forthcoming elections. And to the voters, I hope they will be wise in choosing who could be partners with Mayor Pogi in delivering what’s expected in the next three years. For one, a councilor’s task is not only attending sessions and make himself present? He or she must have basic knowledge of parliamentary procedure. Simple eloquence and can communicate his or her thoughts is needed.
For example, the general fund budget is prepared by the City Budget Officer with the collaboration of the mayor's office and other departments. Each department has programmed expenditures. Normally, the very thick Local Expenditure Program is transmitted to the City Council and each member is given a copy by October.
The general fund budget contains program appropriations and obligations. It is at this stage where a member of the council should be thorough and is obligated to protect the taxpayers’ money. Hindi yung sumasama na lang sa agos. Once it will be presented in a plenary session, it is immediately referred to the committee on finance where hearings will be conducted. After the hearings, it will be back to plenary session for the second reading where debates take place.
There’s nothing better than having a sound fiscal management policy. The big bulk of incomes comes from the internal revenue allotment, business taxes and license, and real property taxes. There other incomes that ranges from hundreds of thousands of pesos and tens of million pesos.