Budget committee requests more time to scrutinize SB-2

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Councilor Margot Osmeña is asking for ample time to validate the revenue sources and all related documents on the proposed P256.86-million Supplemental Budget (SB)-2 before her committee could submit its report.

In yesterday’s special session, the City Council Committee on Budget and Finance, which Osmeña heads, was initially told to have a report on SB-2 ready for today.

Supposedly, the City Council would have a budget hearing on SB-2 today due to its “urgency”.

Osmeña, though, said some committee members received their copies of SB-2 only yesterday they could not finish going over the proposal to prepare a report for today.

“Tomorrow (today) is too soon and please let the local finance committee to be prepared. We are ready to answer and we are not ready with the questions,” Osmeña said.

“I hope you understand because we don’t want to rush even if it is urgent, especially when it involves the funds of the City,” she added.

City Councilor Noel Wenceslao also said that it is not appropriate to have the budget hearing without first presenting the report of the Committee on Budget and Finance.

City Councilor James Cuenco, an ally of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, agreed, saying “we are willing to give enough time and we have to schedule it sooner than usual when we can set the appropriate hearing”.

Rama submitted the proposed SB-2 on Friday to the City legislature.

“We should not be rushing our report because of the word ‘urgent’,” said City Councilor Sisinio Andales, a member of the opposition that holds the council majority.

Yesterday’s 18-minute special session ended with the City Council requiring the Committee on Budget and Finance to include in its report a comprehensive list of payables covered under SB-2.

The proposed SB-2 covers payments for payables amounting to P46.8 million, including P10.3 million in 2009 and P27.3 million in 2010.

The payables are dues the City owes with the national government agencies and private contractors.

SB-2 likewise includes a P25-million allocation for personal services, specifically for the Office of the City Administrator; maintenance and other operating expenses (P201.36); and capital outlay intended for infrastructure projects (P30.5 million).

Another P10 million (motor vehicle outlay) is for the mobile patrol vehicles of the Cebu City Police Office.

The budget’s P33.94-million current operating expenditures MOOE is for gasoline, oil and lubricant, supplies and materials for motor vehicles, telecommunications, janitorial, and security services, with P189,000 set aside for policemen serving the mountain barangays.

Police allowance, including that for the National Bureau of Investigation and Maritime police operatives, is allotted P39.5 million.

The Cebu City Bureau of Fire Protection personnel, on the other hand, gets P3.6 million, while allowance for the judiciary and Office of the Regional State Prosecutor was pegged at P12.9million and P875,000, respectively.

SB-2 also includes P14.78 million as the City Government’s share in the expenses, particularly in the honoraria of the board election inspectors, for the Oct. 28 elections.

On the other hand, infrastructure projects, like asphalting of roads, got an appropriation of P10 million. Garbage collection and disposal services is allotted P21.6 million; sanitary landfill concerns, P1 million; and sanitation supplies and materials, P600,000. (FREEMAN)