To save funds: Noval wants augmentation teams out

CEBU, Philippines - Department of Interior and Local Government 7 director Pedro Noval, Jr. wants to disperse the augmentation forces in the Municipality of Compostela as soon as possible.

Noval, the caretaker of the town, said it costs much to the municipal government to spend around P5,000 a day for meals of 120 military and police personnel.

“Kita ra man nagbuhat aning problema, ato ning sulbaron nga kita-kita. We are projecting Compostela people as trouble maker which is not true,” Noval quoted what he told both groups who keep holding vigils at the town hall and in the church.

On May 11, exactly a year after the last year’s election, thousands of supporters of Mayor-elect Joel Quiño trooped to Compostela town hall to air their sentiments on the slow resolution of the election issues hounding the town.

Tension subsided after Quiño and his supporters voluntarily left the municipal hall more than 24 hours after they stormed the building.

Noval said he is utilizing the Miscellaneous and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) covered in the 2009 reenacted budget of the municipality to augment operational expenses.

Peace and order funds are covered in the reenacted budget to which Noval was able to charge the expenses for the meals of military and police personnel.

The DILG regional director said should their stay in the area takes longer, the municipality will spend more.

Quiño’s supporters hold 24-hour vigil at the town hall while Wagas’s supporters also hold prayer vigil every night at the parish church.

The municipality is operating under the reenacted 2009 budget amounting to P64 million. The same budget was used last year in which the municipality incurred P34 million for operational expenditures while the rest are capital outlay not deemed reenacted.

Noval said the same amount for operational expenses shall most likely be spent for this year under his watch.

Another item that cannot be reenacted is the Development Fund which is equivalent to 20 percent in the total annual budget.

Noval said he was already told by the Commission on Audit and the Department of Budget and Management that he cannot utilize the fund for programs and projects of the town.

Quiño was proclaimed winner of the May 11, 2010 elections, but the result of such was contested by Ritchie Wagas, who ran for reelection as mayor. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) ruled that nobody will be allowed to hold the seat of power yet until the protest is resolved.

Quiño’s proclamation as winner in last year’s polls was ordered annulled by Comelec Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer.

The Comelec and the DILG have said that Quiño and the other elected officials of the municipality cannot yet assume their posts because they are not yet proclaimed winners as the case is still pending before the Comelec. — (FREEMAN)