Mayor JVR hopes 2016 budget passed before election ban

CEBU, Philippines – Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes said he is willing to include appropriation for the City Council’s Legislative Assistance Fund in his proposed 2016 budget as he renewed calls for the body to pass it before the election ban.

Reporters yesterday saw the mayor and his son, city administrator John Yre De los Reyes, visit the office of City Councilor Edward Alesna, chairman of the Council Committee on Budget and Appropriations.

Alesna is one of the members of the majority bloc in the council, composed of councilors from the opposition Alayon Party. Only he and fellow City Councilor Antonio Bacaltos were in the office when the De los Reyeses arrived.

In an interview after, Mayor De los Reyes, more known as “JVR,” admitted that he wanted to meet the council members to appeal for the approval of his proposed P823 million budget for this the year before the election ban in March.

"Wala’y problema nang LAF kay para sa tawo ra man pud na. At the same time, unta mahatag sab nila (council) ang budget before election ban kay useless man pud (kung dili)," he said.

Council members use their LAF either as infrastructure or social and development fund and in providing assistance to residents as the need arises.

Last year, around P11 million was appropriated for the LAF of the members of the council.

Surprised

Alesna later told The FREEMAN he was surprised of the mayor's visit, saying it was “too unusual.”

He explained that his colleagues from the Alayon bloc were not in his office that time as they had other appointments.

Alesna said he and Bacaltos did not promise the mayor anything since they did not represent the whole body.

"Niari man sila sa opisina mao na giatubang nalang namo. Pero wala sab namo pasaligi kay wala ko kahibaw sa huna-huna sa akong mga kauban," Alesna said.

He, however, added that they will try their best to fast-track the budget discussions.

The council members earlier expressed to return the budget proposal to the mayor upon learning that LAF was not part of it.

Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante said they also found appropriations for the salaries and wages of job order employees which they found to be “excessive.”

After the regular session on Tuesday, Villarante said they failed to discuss the proposed budget as they still want to talk to members of the finance committee and all department heads.

Villarante said they were able to save last year after scrutinizing the budget proposal.

The amount saved, he added, will be a big help in the construction or repair of the Tabunok public market without having to resort to a bank loan.

For now, Talisay City is operating on a reenacted 2015 budget. (FREEMAN)