CEBU, Philippines — The majority of the Mandaue City Council approved the ordinance for the annual budget of the city government for 2025, amounting to ?4.5 billion, while three other councilors opposed it.
Despite the opposition of Councilors Joel Seno, Cesar Cabahug Jr., and Andreo Icalina, the majority of the council approved the ordinance on its second, third, and final readings yesterday.
Seno, who raised several questions before the council yesterday, scrutinized the ?38-million budget allocated for flood control for next year. He said projects like flood control should have been given a larger budget.
“We know that flooding in the entire city is supposedly the primordial concern especially that we have to look at the welfare of the people that are in the areas that have been frequently flood,” Seno told reporters yesterday.
?38 million is only 0.00845% of the ?4.5 billion budget.
Seno stated that as a member of the minority, all he could do was make a manifestation.
“We always lose because we don’t have the numbers… In the same manner that I made manifestation that there must be a budget allocation to certain aspects of the certain items in the budget which could have been very necessary,” Seno added.
During the second reading of the ordinance yesterday, City Budget Officer Giovanni Tianero, who appeared as a resource speaker, informed Seno that the allocated budget was based on the proposal submitted by the City Engineering Office.
Tianero said if there are any proposals or suggestions, his office is open to considering them, provided that specific studies and supporting documents are included to complete the proposal.
“If the good councilor means that there should be more budget for certain items, I am open, the budget office is very much open for proposals… and we might consider it for further supplemental budget,” said Tianero.
Seno said that while the city can have a supplemental budget, he believes that flood control should receive a dedicated allocation rather than relying on supplementary funding.
Councilor Marie Immaline Cortes Zafra, chairwoman of the Committee on Appropriations, Budget, and Finance, explained that the city government, through the proposals of the concerned offices, is “trying” to create programs and projects that are “well-tailored” to the needs of the city.
Zafra stated that it isn’t only the city funding the flood control initiatives but also other agencies contributing their part.
She added that while the budget isn’t unlimited, it can be supplemented through a supplemental budget if it’s determined that the ?38 million is insufficient.
Absence during the committee hearing
Zafra revealed before the council that Seno, Cabahug Jr., and Icalina didn’t attend the committee hearing on the ?4.5 billion annual budget held on October 16. She added that the complete summary of the budget was emailed to all councilors on October 11, allowing them to review it in advance of the hearing.
“The majority were present but wala man mo ni-attend, I don’t know what’s your reason. That’s the reason naay committee hearing para atong matagsa-tagsa, ato nang mapangutana,” Zafra said during the session.
This revelation came after Seno asked the city budget officer about the details of the city's budget allocation.
Zafra said the three councilors along with Vice Mayor Nerissa Soon Ruiz declined the committee hearing due to “prior commitments.”
She said that Seno’s “detailed” questions could have been asked during the committee hearing, especially since they require specific answers from concerned offices, such as the budget office.
Moreover, Councilor Malcolm Sanchez said that if the three councilors had been present at the committee hearing, it could have saved time and helped the committee refine the budget proposal.
Sanchez added that the questions should have been raised during the committee hearing, as suggestions are always welcome.
In his defense, Seno admitted that the copy of the budget was sent to them days prior to the hearing. However, he stated that more time was needed to “scrutinize” the matter.
“You know, we are dealing with a very thick budget and scrutinizing that demands more time. So, you cannot expect somebody to read everything in just two days,” said Seno.
Budget Appropriations
The approved annual budget focuses on key appropriations aimed at sustaining public services, implementing infrastructure projects, and supporting community programs.
Maintenance and other operating expenses have the highest allocated budget, with ?2 billion, while the city allocates ?938.96 million for personal services and ?415.87 million for capital outlay.
Additional allocations include ?225 million for the 5% local disaster risk reduction and management fund, ?76.68 million for the peace and order fund, and ?542.59 million for gender and development programs.
The proposed budget ordinance states that unutilized funds will revert to the city’s general fund at the end of the fiscal year. Any conflicting ordinances or regulations will be repealed or amended to ensure smooth implementation.
Now that it has been approved on the third reading and will be signed by Mandaue City Mayor Glenn Bercede, the budget will take effect on January 1, 2025, marking the start of a new fiscal year. — (FREEMAN)