Tabuelan budget officer seeks PB pardon for delay of budget

CEBU - In the face of a possible technical malversation charge on the part of the town’s mayor, Tabuelan municipal budget officer Carmen Ruelan has asked the Provincial Board to reconsider the delay in the submission of the town’s annual budget.

In her letter to the provincial board, Ruelan cited too much work as the major hindrance in submitting the budget on time.

The Tabuelan municipal council approved the ordinance covering the town’s P32-million annual budget for 2008 last November 15, 2007 yet, however, Ruelan forwarded this to the Provincial Budget Office only in August this year —about nine months from its approval for review and evaluation.

“My reason for the delay is that I overload with so many tasks assigned to me considering that in our municipality we only have 42 personnel…” the letter read.

“In addition to this was the preparation we conducted during the ‘Suroy-Suroy sa Sugbo’ in our municipality, which gained praises from our beloved Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia,” the letter further reads.

Provincial Board member Victor Maambong criticized Ruelan for the delay, saying this is exposing Tabuelan Mayor Casiano Gerona to possible technical malversation.

“The delayed submission of the Budget Officer may expose the Chief Executive of the municipality to possible questions of illegality in the expenditures of the items of the budget prior to its approval by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan,” Maambong said in a resolution.

Ruelan admitted to the PB that she failed to submit the budget ordinance for lack of personnel who could transmit any communication to the Provincial Board.

With no options left, the municipality had to use the reenacted budget in the previous year.

Board Member Wenceslao Gakit Jr., chairman of the committee on budget and appropriations, said Ruelan admitted failing to immediately transmit the communication to Capitol for evaluation and approval by his committee.

But Gakit said the local finance committee evaluated and approved the town’s annual budget for various expenditures of the municipality. — Garry B. Lao/JMO (THE FREEMAN)