Provincial Board's lack of quorum stalls passage of P148 million budget

CEBU, Philippines - The lack of quorum in the Cebu Provincial Board yesterday stalled the passage of several important resolutions including the ordinance for the supplemental budget no. 2 of the province amounting to P148.4 million.

Acting presiding officer Julian Daan had to adjourn the session after the roll call for lack of quorum because there were only seven of them present as five of their colleagues were on official trip with Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to China for the signing of a sisterhood agreement. Two others were on leave and one is in Manila for official business.

Aside from Daan, the other board members present were Jose Maria Gastardo, Alfred Francis Ouano, Ian Zambo, Wenceslao Gakit, Teresita Celis and Juan Bolo.

The five board members who joined Garcia in China are Agnes Magpale, Victor Maambong, Peter John Calderon, Wilfredo Caminero and Joven Mondigo, Jr.

PB member Victoria Corominas is in Vietnam for personal vacation while Rosemarie Durano is on sick leave. Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson Bea Calderon is also in Manila.

The absence of quorum stalled the passage of the resolution endorsing the supplemental budget No. 2 amounting to P148,442,000 include the P136, 941,000 development fund which Gakit said, is intended for payment to the WT Construction for its additional work in the Cebu International Convention Center.

According to Gakit, the P136.9 million will be added to the continuing appropriations amounting to P120.4 million to settle the Capitol’s obligation to the WT Construction as ordered by the court. —Fred P. Languido/WAB   (FREEMAN NEWS)