Dads blink; Sherwin wins P1.2-B budget

After painting themselves into a corner, the opposition-dominated City Council of Valenzuela relented and agreed yesterday to finally approve the P1.2-billion budget for 2006 as proposed by the executive.

Valenzuela Mayor Sherwin "Win" Gatchalian thanked the council for setting aside politics and personal interests and putting those of the public above all in approving the original budget.

The City Council, for its part, expressed satisfaction that the impasse has been broken and the good of the greater number of the people assured.

"All’s well that ends well," said Vice Mayor and City Council presiding officer Antonio Espiritu.

The approved budget was hammered out as councilors prepared for the holiday recess which begins Monday next week.

Last week, the City Council, on third reading, approved a P730-million allotment that slashed the Gatchalian-proposed budget by almost half.

The drastic cut threatened to cripple essential city government operations and severely slow down if not altogether stop the delivery of basic services.

The cut likewise would have meant the laying off of over 2,000 contractual and casual employees in garbage disposal, traffic management, flood control, sidewalk clearing and the environment.

The bleak prospects prompted protest rallies from city workers, later leading to the council’s turnaround.

Jeff Ballao, speaking for the 1,200 temporary workers at the City Action Center, said the council bowed down on the strength of the protests they mustered for two weeks.

"Their image before their constituents suffered and this forced them to backtrack," Ballao, a traffic enforcer, said.

He asked the mayor to continue his programs now that the full budget has been restored.

"Tutulungan namin siyang itaguyod ang mga programang naantala lalo na ang kanyang magandang layunin para sa maliliit ng bayan," said Ballao.

Gatchalian, during the course of the conflict, asked parties involved to do away with self-interest and politics.

"Let’s forget about politics first. The elections are very far. Let’s think about the people," the mayor said.

On alleged corruption in office, Gatchalian said he has, early on, asked for a special audit on the Mayor’s Office by the local COA to signify transparency in carrying out his duties as city chief executive.

Gatchalian told The STAR that much time has been lost because of the clashes.

"Since July this year onwards, walang gumalaw sa mga projects and plans," the mayor said. "But the city can now move on with the approved budget."