Council returns SB2

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council will return to Mayor Michael Rama his proposed 2012 Suplemental Budget No. 2 amounting to P233.2 million because it lacks supporting documents.

Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña, who heads the council’s committee on budget and finance, clarified that they did not disapprove the proposed supplemental budget.

“The mayor can still file it back to the City Council with the complete supporting documents,” said Osmeña.

The P233.2 million supplemental budget will be sourced from the city’s retained operating surplus in 2011 and revision of accounts payable, Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), difference for the period 2001 to 2004 and from realignment of funds from the continuing appropriations for 2009 and 2011.

Osmeña said members of her committee observed that the allocation of over P5 million for projects that will be charged against the Local Development Funds lacks supporting documents.

Osmeña also observed that although Acting City Accountant Diwa Cuevas signed the certified statement of funding sources, she made a marginal note that she is certifying only for “Item 4.”

The fund sources for Item No. 4 are the retained operating surplus worth more than P145.267 million and P21.090 million from the revision of accounts payable.

This was also certified by then Acting City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva on July 10 this year.

In a separate interview, Cuevas explained that she made a marginal note because only the budget officer and the city treasurer can certify if the city has funds from IRA difference, savings and realignment.

But Osmeña said that the city accountant should also certify the document to prove that the city has enough funds for the supplemental budget.

Among the allocation in Supplemental Budget No. 2 are P20 million for fuel and lubricants of city hall vehicles, P10.5 million for security services and P734,490 for janitorial services.

– (FREEMAN)