CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council allayed worries of barangay officials about their share of next year’s budget, which is set to be slashed in order to come up with an amount that can be covered by earnings.
The council met barangay officials yesterday and informed them that over P1 billion that will be used for infrastructure projects and other expenditures of the barangays will not be among the items slashed.
The P11.8 billion proposed 2012 budget of Mayor Michael Rama has met a lot of opposition by members of the council as the city does not expect to collect enough funds to cover the entire amount.
Briefing on budget
Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said that about 60 barangay captains and representatives who were given a briefing on the “real” fiscal situation of the city and why the council has to slash some of the items in proposed budget.
Young said they presented to the barangay officials a comparative analysis of the city’s income in the past years to make them understand why it would be impossible to raise P11.8 billion.
“We want to show them na ang P12 billion ni Mike is not possible. Amo sad sila gipakita na tanan gisulod na para sa barangays, wala mi’y gitangtang, approve to tanan. These are all the moneys given to barangays which is almost a billion,” Young said.
The close to P1 billion appropriation for the barangays include infrastructure projects like road concreting, road widening, construction of buildings like health and reading centers, slope protection for mountain barangays, purchase of vehicles and other expenditures.
P400 million more
Young said they are also eyeing some P400 million to be realigned and given to the barangays.
“We have created a formula aron mabahin ang P400 million to all 80 barangays. Everybody will get their share aron walay mahay,” he said.
“Dili mi anang muhatag sa uban kay ganahan mi nila unya dili muhatag sa uban kay di mi ganahan nila,” Young assured.
He said they can raise it to even P500 million. The P400 million can come from budgetary items they see as not important or unnecessary to be prioritized this year so they will realign it for the needs of the barangays.
He said the final list of the items that will be slashed, realigned and inserted will come out on Wednesday.
But initially, the council is mulling on slashing over P4 billion, mostly under the capital outlay.
Capital Outlay covers mostly infrastructure projects, purchase of equipments and vehicles and other acquisition of assets.
Payment to rallos heirs
The city council has decided not to include the P133 million that the court ordered the city to pay to the Rallos heirs.
Young said that this was decided during a meeting yesterday afternoon with City Attorney Joseph Bernaldez.
He said that the reason why they decided not to include the amount is that it will give a wrong signal to the Ralloses, who might think that the city recognizes its obligation to pay.
Another reason, Young said, is an opinion of the Commission on Audit (COA) that money claims have to be filed at their main office and such can only be paid once approved. — /NLQ (FREEMAN)