If 2015 budget approval delayed JVR keen on using reenacted budget

CEBU, Philippines – Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes doesn't find anything wrong with using a reenacted budget if the City Council will fail to approve his proposed P731.6 million 2015 budget, which is more than 40 percent higher than this year’s P516 million allocation.

With only three weeks left before the year ends, the City Council has yet to conduct budget hearings as members of the majority bloc questioned some of the items in the annual budget as proposed by De los Reyes such as the allocation of job orders for councilors, items allocated for Mananga (River) task force and tourism and the intelligence funds.

But according to De los Reyes, the normal delivery of basic services will continue using the reenacted budget if the council fails to pass the measure.

De los Reyes told the reporters that basic services and other projects would continue despite the absence of fresh allocations as reenactment of budget has been anticipated and studied and his government is prepared.

The mayor, however, believes that Alayon councilors will not insert politics in approving his P731 million budget for next year.

Majority City Council floor leader Richard Francis Aznar said they will speed up their deliberation on the budget as he assured the mayor that the city government will not operate on a reenacted budget.

"Amo nang isaad sa mayor nga aprobahan ang budget pero kinahanglan sab natong i-scrutinize iyang proposal aron dili kini mawaldas sa dili maong paggasto," Aznar added.

Bulk of the budget’s amount covers the general fund of P608,171,630.

Also included in the budget is the 20-percent development fund in the amount of P83,855,407; the Talisay City College fund amounting to P14 million; waterworks operations, P579,224.14; market operations, P10 million  and slaughterhouse operations, P15 million.

The sources of funding include income from business permits, aside from the savings from the previous budgets and the city’s other income-generating collection agencies, such as the public markets.

Other sources of the city’s revenues would come from local taxes, permits and licenses, service income and income from economic enterprises.