PB approves P208M SB

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Board approved the P208.2 million supplemental budget intended to fund the Office of the Vice Governor and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia certified the urgency to enact an Appropriation Ordinance authorizing the supplemental budget which she has submitted last May 20, 2011.

But the PB failed to immediately tackle the supplemental budget because it was included in the calendar during their May 23 session and the Board did not hold a session on May 30.

The approval of the supplemental budget technically transfers the appropriations for the Legislative Assistance Fund of the members of the board from the executive department to the legislative.

Magpale got around P26 million for her LAF and P7.2 million for the general administration and support services program.

The 14 PB members shall divide among themselves the P46.6 million of LAF and the P22.8 million for general administration and support service program.

However, Board Member Peter John Calderon who chairs the committee on appropriations said PB Members will not have an equal share of the amount as it covers the appropriations for the second half of last year that were not released.

He said it will be based on balances that were listed as of May 16, 2011.  

An appropriation of P5.6 million was also included for the local disaster risk reduction and management fund of the office of the Governor.

Another appropriation of P100 million was also approved under the office of the Governor for the development of Cordova Reclamation Project, Daanbantayan roll-on/roll-off port and Camotes Airport.

Calderon explained that the said development fund is divided into three-P50 million for Cordova Reclamation Project, P20 million for the Daanbantayan Roro Port and P30 million for the Camotes Airport.

Now that the supplemental budget was approved, Magpale will also get the authority to appoint employees of the PB, an authority that was taken by Garcia from the late vice governor Gregorio Sanchez, Jr.

Magpale will now be signing for the appointments of casual employees of the Board. The appointments of casual employees in the Capitol will expire on June 30.

In this year’s P3 billion Capitol budget, some appropriations for the board was placed under the executive department, authorizing the governor to sign the appointment of its employees.

However, Garcia said she continues to be the appointing authority of employees under the office of the vice governor whose term ends on June 30 because it has a separate budget from the PB. (FREEMAN)