PB returns Dumanjug’s annual budget

CEBU, Philippines - Dumanjug’s 2014 annual budget totaling P70.5 million has been dragged into the controversy surrounding the appointment of the town’ Sangguniang Bayan secretary.

Instead of approving Dumanjug’s 2014 annual budget, the Cebu Provincial Board yesterday returned it to the town allegedly over irregularities and inconsistencies in certain documents.

The budget, contained under SB Resolution No. 18-2013, was received for review by the PB last Dec. 27 yet.

The resolution was signed by Mayor Nelson Garcia and six town councilors, but it did not bear the signature of Vice Mayor Efren Guntrano Gica, who is the  town council presiding officer.

Board Member Grecilda Sanchez, who heads the PB committee on appropriation, said that while her committee was reviewing the town’s budget, she received a letter from Gica dated March 12, 2014.

Gica informed Sanchez on the irregularity of procedure in the passage of the annual budget, and submitted a copy of the Journal Entry of the Special Session and other Resolution No. 18-2013.

 The journal entry of the Dec. 26, 2013 special session showed nine SB members and Gica were present, with Nerio Aquino as secretary.

Sanchez noted an irregularity and inconsistency in the records when two resolutions appeared to have the same number.

One resolution, which embodied the 2014 annual budget, had annual budget with Emmylou Cabonilas as the SB secretary, while the other resolution was on the supplemental budget of Barangay Balaygtiki Aquino signed.

Sanchez said the PB is constrained to only accept documents from authorized signatories, as the true legitimate SB secretary.

The PB is still investigating the administrative complaints filed by Gica against Garcia over the appointment of the SB secretary.

“Due to the conflicting issues stated above, the passage of the 2014 annual budget of the municipality of Dumanjug appears to be passed in a highly irregular procedure coupled with inconsistencies of the records,” Sanchez said.

She added that the PB is constrained to proceed with the review and wait for the resolution of the issues between the executive and legislative branches of the said municipality.

The PB also decided to invite Garcia, Gica, Cabonilas, Aquino and the town councilors to appear in next Monday’s session to shed light on the matter. (FREEMAN)