BACOLOD City Vice Mayor Greg Gasataya said Friday that City Accountant has certified that the City Government has an available fund of P50 million from the 2012 savings that can be disposed by the administration of Mayor Monico O. Puentevella for its priority needs.
City Accountant Ed Ravena made the statement during their appearance before the City Council session last Wednesday along with the budget officer and treasurer.
Such certification can be used as basis for the mayor to request for an appropriation ordinance before the City Council.
Gasataya made this clarification contrary to reports that the city is in dark insofar as its financial state is concerned.
Lawyer Rolando Villamor, city administrator, said Friday that former Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia said that there is money left. The city accountant also said there is P50 million. All indications point to one thing that there is money.
"But why can't they just tell us specifically where it is? Hopefully, it can be cleared by next week that there is indeed so much money available for the disposal of the new administration after the egg hunting," he said.
Villamor also explained that the previous statement of Puentevella considered the selling of properties of the City Government was just his fallback position when a worst case scenario happens.
Gasataya, on the other hand said, that the city's payment for her loans is already included in the annual budget and it has not even reached its ceiling of 20 percent.
