PB okays SB with P4M slash

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Board yesterday approved the supplemental budget containing the awaited anniversary bonus of the Capitol employees but with a P4 million cut.

The legislative department only approved P267.9 million out of the P271.9 million submitted by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

The only item that was subjected to a debate was the P5 million earmarked for printing and binding expenses under the Office of the Provincial Information Officer.

PB Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy proposed to slash the amount to P1 million saying that it is too expensive. The proposal was objected by One Cebu Party member Julian Daan.

Daan explained that the person in-charge of the office should be given the chance to justify the appropriation.

But Vice Governor Agnes Magpale and Board Member Peter John Calderon told Daan that they have already invited people from the said office twice but no one cared to explain.

Calderon said that even Provincial Budget Officer Emme Gingoyon cannot justify the amount.

“We did not remiss our duty,” Calderon said.

Even PB Member Alex Binghay, a member of One Cebu Party, said he was for the slashing of the amount as he wanted to have explanation on the particulars of the said appropriation.

This prompted Sitoy to move for the division of the house of which 12 members voted for the slashing, Daan voted against it while Board Member Sergio Restauro, a member of the Alayon Party of First District Rep. Eduardo Gullas, abstained.

Daan was apprehensive that Garcia may veto the supplemental budget they passed yesterday because of the slashed amount.

Daan and Board Member Caesar Ian Geronimo Zambo also raised objection to a section in the appropriation ordinance giving authority to the vice governor to approve the utilization and distribution of their Provincial Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) as proposed by Sitoy.

The Office of the Vice Governor has an appropriation of P11.4 million and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has P45.5 million of their PDAF.

Daan cited the Local Government Code which provides that the governor shall exercise general supervision and control over all programs, projects, services, and activities of the provincial government.

“We can be independent but we cannot allow doing illegal things,” Zambo said.

Before the division of the house as moved by Restauro, Sitoy withdrew his proposal citing the “intensity of intellectual earthquake” and to keep their bonding intact despite political realignment.

Of the total amount approved, P23.64 million was appropriated for the collective negotiation agreement incentive of the 1,576 Capitol employees.

The Office of the Governor has a total appropriations of P23.5 million which include the P6 million for the sports and youth development program; P3 million for the Expanded Green and Wholesome Environment that Nurtures (E-GWEN); P2 million for the peace and order program; P1 million each for the culture and arts development; and tourism program; and other office expenditures.

The Office of the Vice Governor has P12.3 million including the P11.4 million PDAF.

The P45.5 million of PDAF under the SP will be divided by the 14 board members while one seat in the fifth district remains vacant. (FREEMAN)