Talisay council to cut budget again

CEBU, Philippines - For suing 10 members of the City Council, Mayor Johnny “JVR” De los Reyes is likely getting a third supplemental budget that is yet slashed again.

Council presiding officer, Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante, said they are determined to trim down the proposed P72.8 million third supplement since De los Reyes anyway filed a case against the council before the Regional Trial Court for “drastically slashing” the 2015 annual budget.

“It's expected that the council will slash the budget. Dili ba gikiha naman mi sa mayor tungod sa paglaslas sa 2015 annual budget? Unsa pa man ang iyang mapaabot nga among aprobahan ang iyang supplemental budget?" Villarante said.

In a meeting yesterday, the council already agreed to remove or forgo some of the items in the supplement.

The vice mayor described the third supplemental budget as a "political budget" that may just be used in the election campaign next year.

He also lambasted the mayor's “sudden” generosity to barangays and health workers, calling it a gesture which comes with an underlying call for support.

In his third supplemental budget, the mayor appropriated P2.5 million for senior citizens; P1.320 million honorariums of barangay health workers and the P4 million for the financial aid to the barangays.

For Villarante, the mayor appears to be trying to win the sympathy of barangays for his re-election bid.

So far, JVR has the support of at least 10 barangays: Biasong, Pooc, Mohon, Lawaan I, Lawaan II, Linao, Poblacion, Cansojong, San Roque and Camp 4.

The opposition party Alayon, on the other hand, has a grip on 12 barangays: Bulacao, Candulawan, Dumlog, Jaclupan, Lagtang, Lawaan III, Maghaway, Manipis, San Isidro, Tabunok, Tangke and Tapul.

Villarante also questioned items on the proposed budget worth of P27 million, which are intended for the hiring of 1,200 job order employees. He said this would open opportunity for De los Reyes to hire additional 700 JOs.

Back in the second supplemental budget, the council only approved P10.49 million from the P27 million that De los Reyes asked. The amount represents the JOs’ honorariums until September this year.

As to the mayor’s request for more intelligence fund, Villarante said the council is bound to allow just P100,000 of the P5 million.

Last July, De los Reyes lodged a mandamus case before the RTC against 10 council members to compel them to review the yearly budget.

Named respondents in the petition were Villarante and Councilors Danilo Caballero, Richard Francis Aznar, Socrates Fernandez, Edward Alesna, Aldin Diaz, Doroteo Emit, Antonio Bacaltos Jr., Eduardo Gullas III and ex-officio member Raul Cabañero.

Only councilors Valeriano Ylanan and Dennis Basillote were not named respondents. The two are known to be the mayor’s allies in the council.

Earlier, the council decided to cut the proposed P1.081 billion annual city budget down to P539.941 million.

In June, the council approved only P25.15 million of P65.1 million second supplemental budget proposal of De los Reyes.

In the first supplement, the mayor's budget was slashed down to P33.2 million from the P59.4 million.  (FREEMAN)