No politics in delay of Toledo budget

CEBU, Philippines - It is not politics that delayed the passage of the 2014 annual budget of the Toledo City government but the procedure of submission of the budget from the Office of the Mayor to the City Council.

Councilor Helen Jill Espinosa, chairperson of the City Council committee on budget and appropriations, said this in reaction to the statement of Mayor John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña that services in the city are being jeopardized because seven councilors are still hooked to the “politics mentality”.

Osmeña made the statement following the claim of the Toledo City police that the lack of logistical support from the local government unit is affecting their crime solution efficiency.

Since January 1, the city is operating under the reenacted budget pending the passage of the proposed 2014 annual budget submitted by Osmeña amounting to P657 million now pending before Espinosa’s committee.

Espinosa said the proposed budget was referred to her committee only on January 6, 2014.

 It reportedly appeared upon review that the proposed budget lacks pre-requisites, including the approved Local Development Investment Plan (LDIP) for 2013 to 2018, which would be the basis of the three-year Annual Investment Plan (AIP).

Espinosa said what they received on March 3, 2014 was the AIP based on the LDIP for 2011 to 2016 wherein most of the programs and projects were already implemented by the previous administration.

She said that had Osmeña submitted the executive budget on the prescribed period on or before October 16 of the preceding year, the committee would have reviewed it thoroughly.

Osmeña earlier admitted that he submitted the executive budget for 2014 last December 14, 2013 as he waited for the barangay election so that the newly elected barangay captains who comprise more than half of the members of the City Development Council would be the ones to formulate the budget.

Espinosa said that they need enough time to review the budget and to make sure that the pre-requisites are complied with.

Pending approval of the annual budget, Espinosa said it’s a call of the local chief executive to identify essential operating expenses to be funded by the reenacted budget. — (FREEMAN)