For the 3rd time: Passage of Talisay budget postponed

For the third time, the Talisay City Council yesterday failed to approve the city's proposed P249.159 million budget for 2006 after it found several typographical errors in the measures.

During the council's session yesterday, Councilor Arturo Bas, chairman of the council committee on budget and finance, said that it was found out that the appropriations for the 20 percent development fund in the proposed annual budget did not coincide.

On November 24, the council approved the P35, 884,898.40 fund for projects proposed by Mayor Socrates Fernandez, barangay captains, government organizations and non-government organizations.

The Local Government Code states that the council should take up the annual budget for passage within 90 days.

"In case the Sanggunian concerned fails to pass the ordinance authorizing the annual appropriations at the beginning of the ensuing fiscal year, it shall continue to hold sessions, without additional remuneration for its members, until such ordinance is approved and no other business may be taken up during the said session," it says.

But observers speculate that the council's failure to pass the 2006 budget was due to the forced resignation of Aurora Econg as city administrator.

Administration councilors reportedly asked Mayor Fernandez and first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas to let Econg resign as they are becoming uncomfortable with her because of her popularity among barangay leaders and women's organizations in the city.

But Econg told The FREEMAN that she resigned due to the pressure of her work considering that she handles important legal cases, particularly the one regarding the nullification of Talisay's cityhood.

"Now that I resigned as city administrator, I can now focus on my work as city legal officer," said Econg, who is now on sick leave.

Vice Mayor Aberdovey Belleza, meanwhile, laughed off newspaper reports that he and other administration councilors were responsible for Econg's resignation.

"Intriga ra na. There's no conflict between us. She is a great help to the city of Talisay," Belleza said. - Garry B. Lao