Mandaue VM questions budget for Christmas 2025

CEBU, Philippines — Mandaue City Vice Mayor Nerissa Soon-Ruiz is seeking clarification over the P16 million budget allocated for the Pasko sa Mandaue for the year 2025, which is part of the city's approved annual budget for next year.

During the regular session last Monday, City Budget Officer Giovanni Tianero said that the P16 million budget is intended for city hall employees’ Christmas program and for hams to be distributed to them as part of the celebration.

With this, Soon-Ruiz instructed the secretary of the Sangguniang Panglungsod to write a letter to the Human Resource Department to inquire about the total number of city hall employees, given the “large” budget allocation, particularly for the hams.

"Kadako man sa amount unya kaning kwarta, kwarta baya ni sa katawhan dili ra baya ni sa mga empleyado, malipay ta naa tay ikahatag sa mga empleyado pero kanang mas daghan man siguro ang mga tao sa Mandaue nga maoy mambubuhis gusto sad siguro sila mahibaw kung asa padong ang ilahang kwarta," said Soon-Ruiz in an interview.

She said that an official letter was sent on Thursday, November 14, and they will be expecting the HR's response by next week.

Although the P4.5 billion annual budget for the year 2025 was approved last Monday, November 11, Soon-Ruiz emphasized that the Mandauehanons deserve to know how much has been allocated for the Christmas program and ham for the employees.

“Ang ato nangutana for clarification, para makasabot ta, makasabot ang taga- Mandaue nga maoy nagbayad sa buhis, kay lisod man kaayo mayg atoa ng personal nga kwarta gasto ka lang, kwarta baya nis katawhan sa Mandaue,” she said.

The Vice Mayor clarified that she is not taking sides as the presiding officer during the session but is seeking clarification because she wants to know exactly how many employees have been hired by the city government.

“Natural mangutana ta unsa may gigahin sa 16 million para lang sa usa ka event, para sa Pasko sa Mandaue,” she said.

“Ibutang ta lang ang gasto sa pasundayag muingon kag 5 million. Asa man ang 11 million padung sa hamon. Maongnangutana ko unsa man diay ni kadaghan nga mugahin man ta og ingon ana nga amount,” Soon-Ruiz said.

Soon-Ruiz said that the number of employees seems excessive given the allocated budget, unless that many have indeed been hired by the city.

She cited as example the Clean and Green program which already has over 5,000 employees, yet the city’s streets are still dirty. She said that with this number of employees, there should be no trash in the barangays.

“Mas maayo unta to nga transparent lang unta ba nganong masuko man kung pila na ka tao atong gisweldohan,” said Soon-Ruiz.

“I think the Mandauehanon has the right to know asa padungang iyahang kwarta,” she added.

Soon-Ruiz pointed out that the city is already facing many other pressing problems, hence the question why a large amount is being allocated for the particular item.

She also said that based on her last known information, the city only has 2,000 employees.

Soon-Ruiz estimated that if each ham costs P500, the city government would have hired around 20,000 employees, including contractual and job order staff. She said the city government may have possibly increased hiring to use them during the campaign period next year.

“Mao nang mahadlok guru sila mahibaw-an kay sige man sila og hiring mga contractuals, mga job orders nga kahibaw ta magamit during period of campaign ba mga ingon ana,” she added.

Based on the Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing of Mandaue City, the P16 million will be charged to the General Fund under 'Other Maintenance and Operating Expenses' for Cultural, Athletic, and Other Activities, which includes the Pasko sa Mandaue and Year-End Evaluation Activities. (CEBU NEWS)