JVR withholds funds for Talisay legislators

CEBU, Philippines – Members of Talisay City Council have found it "unusual" that their Legislative Assistance Fund (LAF) for the first quarter has not yet been released to them.

In effect, they could not yet start giving assistance to barangays that need them, said Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante, the council presiding officer.

Villarante yesterday told reporters the council is yet to receive from the City Budget Office the first chunk of its LAF this year totaling P4.875 million.

LAF is Talisay City's version of what used to be the Priority Development Assistance Fund of the Congress.

The 11 city councilors and the council's ex-officio member representing the Association of Barangay Councils are each allotted P1.5 million while the Office of the Vice Mayor is allocated P3 million for their LAF projects and programs for the whole year.

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

"Without the LAF, we cannot give any assistance to the barangays. There is politics in it…if the mayor will not release our LAF to appear that the councilors and the SP are not capable of helping the barangays," Villarante said.

Villarante said he recently learned of the "refusal of the mayor" to release their LAF but had opted to remain silent because issues between him and the mayor were already discussed during an earlier dialog at the Office of Vice Governor Agnes Magpale.

De los Reyes and the council disagreed on some terms of 2015 annual budget, which was reduced by the council from P1.081 billion to P539 million. LAF allocations are incorporated in the annual budget of Talisay City.

Geraldine Padillo, Villarante's executive assistant, said there are many barangays that have submitted to their office requests for projects to be supposedly charged to the respective LAF of the councilors.

Padillo, however, said she could not yet accept the requests from the barangays unless an assurance on the release of the funds is made by the City Budget Office.

In a separate interview, De los Reyes confirmed he has deferred LAF's release until such time that the city has satisfied its operating expenses.

"If ako ning ihatag tanan, unsa na man lang ang sa ubang proyekto? Kahinumdom baya mo nga gilaslasan nila ang budget unya daghan gyud ang na-affected," De los Reyes said.

The mayor assured he will refer the matter with city budget officer Edgar Mabunay.

Mabunay, on the other hand, said the council should wait for the release of their LAF because the approved 2015 annual budget was just recently approved.

"Bisan na-approve sa City Council ang ilang budget, it does not mean nga ma-implement ug ma-release dayon ang ilang LAF. Kanang ilang LAF, igo ra mang gi-defer," Mabunay said.

(Editor's Note: The Supreme Court has since declared PDAF as unconstitutional.)