For review: Ordinance using calamity fund for summit sent to PB

The Lapu-Lapu City Council has endorsed to the Provincial Board for review an ordinance authorizing Mayor Arturo Radaza to use the city's P10 million calamity fund for the purchase police equipment, and for the monthly allowance of the city policemen.

The fund will be used for the purchase of police communication equipment worth P3 million, police motor vehicles worth P2 million, furniture and fixtures for the Special Weapons and Tactic team building worth P1.5 million and logistical needs worth P1.5 million.

Another P2 million will be set aside as allowance for the entire city police force for four months.

During the passage of the ordinance, the council only made justification that the use of the calamity fund is to ensure the safety of delegates to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in December.

But at March 20, 2003 a joint memorandum circular issued by the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Interior and Local Government clarified that calamity fund under the Local Government Code may be valid only for relief and rehabilitation during disasters and events stemmed from unlawful acts such as terrorism.

The memorandum circular also stated that such disaster activities should only include financial, medical, death and funeral benefits to the victims.

The Local Government Code stipulated that the calamity fund should only be used for areas declared by the local government unit or the president under state of calamity.

Unsure of the legality of the ordinance, the council instead endorsed it to the Provincial Board for further study.

The measure, which was approved by the council last September 15, is now pending before the PB committee on local finance committee chaired by Board Member Victor Maambong. - Flor Z. Perolina/LPM