Marathon sessions for proposed city budget set

January 10, 2019 Metro BLISTT

The local legislative body decided to conduct marathon Special sessions on December 27 and 28, 2018 in a bid to approve the P2.179 billion proposed annual budget of the local government next year before the end of this year.
Secretary to the Sanggunian Atty. Brenner L. Bengwayan said that the decision to conduct marathon sessions to approve the proposed city budget was reached after local legislators approved the income portion of the proposed budget that reflected a P4 million increase submitted by Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan from the earlier P2.175 billion annual budget that was transmitted to the local legislative body for delineations.
He said local legislators will try their best to approve the budget either on the first or second day of the special sessions because they do not want that the local government will operate on a re-enacted budget at the start of the year.
Bengwayan disclosed that the special sessions will start at 9am and will end once the budget will be passed for the signature of the local chief executive.
Earlier, Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan transmitted to the local legislative body the adjusted proposed annual budget with an increment of P4 million from the projected increase in income from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes (PCSO) in the income portion of the proposed annual budget.
Domogan pointed out the proposed amount is proposed to be allocated for the 5 percent mandatory share of the disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) fund – P200,000; youth development under the Office of the City Mayor – P1 million; and additional funding for priority projects under the 20 percent local development fund for the fencing of the Sto. Tomas multi-land use area – P2.8 million.
He claimed a favorable action of the Council on the proposed annual budget will sustain the development programs the city collectively identified to improve the city and serve better the people as the current set of local officials are about to end their term.
On October 16, 2018, the Mayor submitted to the Council the P2.175 billion proposed annual budget of the city for 2019 for the latter to deliberate on and approve.
However, the Council returned to the City Mayor’s Office the proposed annual budget requesting for an increase in its income statement by at least P10 million to ensure the funding of more priority projects beneficial to the greater interest of the majority of the populace.
The city’s finance officers recommended to the local chief executive that only an adjustment of P4 million is possible in the proposed P10 million proposal considering that all the sources of income had been fully maximized as the local legislative body never passed the required corresponding revenue measures that can lead to a greater increase in income to fund projects that are emanating from them.
Under the provisions of the Local Government Code, it is only the local chief executive who is authorized to increase the proposed annual budget of local governments while the local legislative body is simply empowered to deliberate on the matter although the same is empowered to reduce the same for whatever reasons.
BAGUIO PIO/ABN