4 councilors reject P2M budget share

CEBU, Philippines -  Afraid of the pork barrel scam, four councilors who are allied with the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan refused to get their respective P2 million share from the proposed P36 million for the social and other development projects during the 2015 annual budget marathon hearings.

Councilor Alvin Dizon manifested lack of interest over the amount due to the multi-billion peso pork barrel scandal involving public officials, and got the support of Councilors Alvin Arcilla, Margarita Osmeña and Lea Japson.

“My mandate is legislative and I will focus on what I am called for to do. I have to decline on the proposed ‘pork barrel’ for councilors by the mayor’s office primarily because I cannot support something which is unpopular,” said Dizon.

More than 50 people including three senators, Ramon Revilla Jr., former senate Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada and former Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile were accused of plunder and graft for the pork barrel scam before the Sandiganbayan. 

City Administrator Dr. Lucelle Mercado, who defended the budget, said the amount is earmarked in the proposed annual budget, giving each city councilor and Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella the “prerogative” to identify P2 million worth of projects. However, these projects will be implemented by the executive department.

Dizon claimed that it is “inappropriate” for them to identify and prioritize projects, which are “far” beyond their mandates as local legislators.

“My job is not to identify projects because it’s not within my mandate as a councilor. I am here to pass legislations. This aid is sort of a pork barrel for councilors,” he said.

Dizon said further that the executive included the amount to get their support in the passage of next year’s annual appropriations amounting to P18.9 billion.

“Why only now nga hatagan og budget? This is somehow a way of influencing or driving the councilors to approve the budget right away,” he said.

Other councilors also doubted the new item under the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses of the Office of the Mayor.

“I am not comfortable with that appropriation. I don’t know what it’s for. I saw it as our own PDAF. I don’t know what the condition comes with it,” Osmeña said.

Osmeña added that the appropriation would only double the financial assistance granted to barangays since the amount is solely intended for barangay projects and programs. The city is proposing P100,000 financial aid to 80 barangays totaling to P8 million.

“Accepting the amount would be right because it is like the controversial PDAF. Maglikay lang ‘ta kay basin mapasanginlan ta,” Japson, for her part, said.

Arcilla said that the amount is better off with the proper department like the Department of Engineering and Public Works, augmenting the budget on infrastructure projects in the city.

He recalled that some time in 2011 or 2012, all councilors were also given P2 million each for soft projects such as social services and sports programs, among others, but none were implemented.

Dizon recommended giving the executive department and the barangays the full authority to prioritize projects.

The executive department was required to submit to the council the breakdown of the amount.

The marathon hearing will continue today, inviting the Department of Public Services, DEPW and Bids and Awards Committee. — (FREEMAN)