Talisay okays P464 million 2011 budget

CEBU, Philippines – The Talisay City council during its regular session yesterday morning approved on third and final reading the city's annual budget for the next year amounting to P464 million, about P27 million higher than this year's.

Before it was approved, however, opposition Councilor Val Ylanan aired his concerns regarding the P16 million allocation under the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE), saying that there should be a "breakdown" of this funding afterwards for the public to know how it would be spent.

Ylanan said the "donations" and "special activities" which share the amount, P7 million and P9 million, respectively, are "too broad" that the taxpayers can't tell what projects or special funding are under these items.

For his part, Councilor Rodi Cabigas' manifestation while also backed by his fellow opposition councilor Romeo Villarante who said that under the Local Government Code, items listed in the annual budget must be in black and white.

Cabigas, proponent of the appropriation ordinance, being chairman of the Committee on Appropriation, Budget Management & Ways and Means, said that it is the budget office that takes care of such concern.

Other items the opposition councilors found intriguing are Mayor Socrates Fernandez's "confidential" and the "intelligence expenses" which have P4 million each.

Councilor Danny Caballero, one of the three in the minority block, said he did not bother to question the budget because he believes the administration councilors have ready answers.

And in case the house would be divided, the opposition would still be outnumbered by 3-9, the administration being the majority.

Meanwhile, other "questionable items" that the minority councilors noted, saying they are "redundant," are the "Talisay City Traffic Operations & Development Authority" (TCTODA) and the "Talisay Traffic Aide Task Force," which are allocated P2 million and P4.5 million, respectively.

Both are under the office of Vice Mayor Alan Bucao being chairman of the newly-created TCTODA and head of the traffic task force.

Other items with bigger shares are the "Honorarium to Different Committees and Teachers" (P4 million), "Tax Collection Enforcement/Messenger" (P3.2 milion), "Mananga Task Force" (P3.9 million), "Peace and Order" (P10 million), "Security Services" (P6 million), among others.

On the other hand, the council only gives P100,000 to its veterans and P200,000 to the urban poor.

Council secretary Miggy Enjambre said the budget ordinance had gone a series of hearings before it was filed in the council yesterday. (FREEMAN)