JVR likely to veto budget ordinance

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes will stamp a partial veto on city's 2015 annual budget that was earlier approved by the City Council.

The council approved the amended annual appropriation ordinance with the budget that has been lowered from more than P1.081 billion to P539.941 million.

The approved budget is lower by P89 million than last year's P628 million.

In his partial veto draft on the budget ordinance, De los Reyes will invoke Section 55 of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Code of 1991, contending that the legislative enactment "is ultra vires or prejudicial to public welfare".

The mayor pointed out that the approved amended budget ordinance was "drastically" reduced by the council.

"We have not yet received the approved amended 2015 annual budget ordinance but we are preparing our veto ordinance base on newspaper report," De los Reyes said.

Among items that De los Reyes will veto will be the appropriations under the Mayor's Office, from P41.8 million to P20.3 million.

Appropriations under the Office of the Mayor included the allocations for confidential/intelligence expenses and other maintenance and operating expenses, from P10 million to P100,000; gasoline and fuel allocation, from P6 million to  P2 million; repairs and vehicle maintenance, from P5 million to P2 million; extraordinary expenses and miscellaneous expenses, from P426,000 to P76,000; advertising expenses, from P600,000 to P10,000; and training.

"Ang akong pag-veto is justifiable. Fair lang siguro sa akoa kay klaro man gyud kaayo ang ilang paglaslas sa akoang budget. Sobra pa man sa katunga ang paglaslas sa akoang budget," De los Reyes said.

Also, the mayor said he will veto P1.167 million budget for the Office of the City Administrator that was originally proposed at P6.833 million.

Among the significantly slashed items in the budget were lump-sum appropriations, from P733,000 to P3,000; travelling expenses, from P700,000 to P50,000; training expenses, from P600,000 to P50,000; office supplies, from P1 million to P500,000; other office supplies, from P300,000 to P50,000; Internet expenses, from P100,000 to P1,000; subscription expenses, from P50,000 to P1,000; repair and maintenance office building and equipment, from P500,000 to P1,000; other maintenance and operating expenses, from P1.850 million to P50,000; activities and programs, from P500,000 to P10,000.

Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante, the council presiding officer and a lawyer by profession, said the council members will meet to discuss and respond as soon they will receive the veto of the mayor.

Under the law, the SP can override the mayor's veto through a vote of two-thirds of the members of the council.

With 11 members including the sectoral representative of the barangay, at least eight votes will be needed to do so. Currently, there are seven councilors belonging to the majority Alayon Party bloc while four belong to the minority.

But of the four minority councilors, Councilors Danilo Caballero and Aldin Diaz are now said to be leaning to support to override the veto ordinance, leaving the mayor only to allies — Councilors Valeriano Ylanan and Dennis Basillote — to support the veto.  (FREEMAN)