Talisay allocates P16.5M soft project fund for 2015

CEBU, Philippines - The 2015 annual Talisay City budget has appropriated P1.5 million to each member of the council for use in the funding of soft projects in the barangays and other programs or more commonly called "legislative assistance fund."

In total, the city's 10 councilors and ex-officio member, are given LAF amounting to P16.5 million.

Based on the 2015 general fund, however, over P41.1 million has been allotted for the Other Maintenance and Operating Expenses  item in the budget of the council members.

The budget also provides P2 million worth of LAF to the Office of the Vice Mayor.

In 2014, city councilors have been allocated LAF of P1 million each, which means that the 2015 allocations will be P500,000 more.

For this year, however, half of the LAF amount was taken from the Office of the Sangguniang Panlungsod while the remaining P500,000 from the aid to the barangays under the Office of the Mayor.

Geraldine Padillo, the executive assistant of Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante, said during the budget hearing last August 14, they decided that the LAF be appropriated and covered under the appropriation of the legislative department.

Villarante, the council presiding officer, maintained that while the LAF might be equivalent to the national government's Priority Development Assistance Fund (which has already been abolished) in terms of its purpose, he and the City Council will create implementing guidelines to avoid its abuse.

Villarante said for every allocation, there has to be a proposal for project that is to be implemented.

The vice mayor, a lawyer by profession, also said the budget for the councilors' soft projects are in the line items and could be properly audited. (FREEMAN)