3 brgys may face charges after not submitting budget

CEBU, Philippines- Officials of three barangays in Cebu City may face administrative charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for failure to submit the 2015 Annual Budget.

 Department of Interior and Local Government-Cebu City director Danilo Almendras said officials of barangays Cogon Pardo, Sinsin  and Sambag II are administratively liable for dereliction of duty. He said anyone can file a case against them before the Office of the Ombudsman.

 Pursuant to Section 318 of R.A. No. 7160 and implemented by DBMCOA Joint Circular No. 93-2 dated June 8, 1993, a Punong Barangay who fails to submit the budget on or before October 16 of the current year is subject to criminal and administrative penalties as provided by the Local Government Code and other applicable laws.

 Under the law, Almendras said the barangays will have a reenacted budget from last year after they exceeded the 90-day period allowance from the due date.

 The budget submission was set October last year or five months ago.

 A barangay budget consists of estimates of income, total appropriations covering current operating expenditures, and capital outlays.

 With a re-enacted budget from last year, the barangay is restricted on its program expenditures and projects, including salaries and honorariums of barangay officials and employees.

 When sought for comment, Cogon Pardo Barangay Captain Harry Eran said the delay was due to the bulk of budgetary attachments. He said they will still submit their budget next week to the Budget Office for review.

 Cogon Pardo has P6.1 million proposed appropriation this year. It was approved by the barangay council on January 5.

 The amount, he said would be sourced from P4.5 million internal revenue allotment, 20 percent of which or P905,000 goes to development projects; P910,000 real property taxes; P250,000 other revenues, such as municipal clearance, cedula, rental of equipment and vehicle among others.

 With limited revenues, the barangay projects such as P300,000 concreting of pathways and P200,000 street lighting, among others may not be fulfilled.

 Budget Officer Marietta Gumia said the barangays are still required to submit to them their re-enacted budget for review to ensure that budgetary requirements and limitations provided in the Local Government Code are complied with; the budget does not exceed the estimated receipts and/or income of the barangay; and the items of appropriations are not more than those provided by existing laws.

 After which, it will be returned to the Punong Barangay for proper adjustment/ revisions.

 The barangay treasurer who has custody of the funds shall not make any further disbursements from the inoperative budget. The barangay operates on a re-enacted budget or the budget of the previous year until the proposed budget meets the approval of the Sangguniang Panlungsod or Bayan to ensure the continuity of its projects and activities

In a separate interview, Mayor Michael Rama has asked the budget office to look into the predicament of three barangays “basin duna pa’y relief for justifiable grounds para ma-aprobahan pa ang budget nila.”  (FREEMAN)