Talisay SP tasks budget officer to release money

CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City council has approved a resolution which requests city budget officer Edgar Mabunay to immediately release payments to organizers who were tapped to organize the city’s “Kasadya sa Talisay” in line with the fiesta celebration last October. 

Councilor Aldin Diaz, author of the resolution, yesterday said the action addresses the issue of “double-standards” allegedly manifested by Mabunay when releasing payments for historical and cultural activities. 

In his privilege speech during the council session, Diaz said he had tapped an organizers, the AIM Promotions and Spring Production, for the 15-day “Kasadya.”

The city has yet to pay the remaining balance of P1.2 million to the organizers.

To Diaz’s consternation, the “Sinulog sa Kabataan” budget was immediately released, which also cost over one million pesos. 

“My question is this, why do we have to spend another million of pesos for one day and yet we haven’t settled our obligations with the organizer, the AIM Promotions, that has to be paid P1.280 million and Spring Productions P150,000,” Diaz, who acts as the mayor’s representative in the tourism development council, said. 

The provincial government has donated P650,000 for the activity. 

Diaz said it is his duty and responsibility to represent Talisay as chairman of the Tourism Council. 

“As chairman of the tourism council, I cannot any more face our partners, our organizers, because we cannot pay this amount. I am not against our former tourism officer/ budget officer representing the city but I just want proper channeling and coordination with the tourism council,” he said.

In a separate interview with The Freeman, Mabunay said he cannot understand why Diaz blames him for delayed payments. 

“Asa man nato i-charge ang iyang gipangayo? There was no project proposal submitted to me. Ang dapat unta nilang gibuhat nga before sa activity, naa unta activity design aron wala’y problema nga mahitabo,” Mabunay said, adding that there are no such things as double standards when it comes to paying what the city owes. â€“ (FREEMAN)