Council OKs 38% of Talisay budget

CEBU, Philippines – A total of P46.15 million, mostly appropriations for the hiring of job order employees and infrastructure projects, was slashed from Talisay City’s P73.9 million third supplemental budget.

City Councilor Edward Alesna, who chairs the Committee on Budget and Appropriations, outlined the approved supplemental budget during the 5th Sangguniang Panlungsod session yesterday morning.

In sum, the SP reduced the Mayor Johnny De los Reyes’ proposed P73,886,845 supplemental budget down to P27,736,845. This means that only around 38 percent got approved from the total amount of the proposal.

The mayor's hiring of job order employees under the Office of the Mayor was among the items cut severely. From a proposed allocation of P21 million, it was trimmed to P7.8 million.

Also slashed were the allocations for construction or rehabilitation of local roads and bridges in the amount of P15 million to P500,000.

Alesna explained that there is still P20 million remaining from the P80 million funds coming from the 20 percent development fund intended for infrastructure projects.

"So what’s the purpose of asking additional funds for infrastructure nga naa pa ma'y nahabiling 20 percent development fund," he said.

Allocations for maintenance and other operating expenses for other supplies were also reduced. These include allocations for plaza, park and buildings, which were cut from P1 million to P500,000; maintenance of roads, bridges and streets, from P1 million to P500,000; mayor’s confidential funds, P5 million to P100,000; other maintenance and operating expenses under the Office of the Mayor, from P4 million to P1 million; street lighting, from P1 million to P500,000; special activities, from P3 million to P50,000.

Different aids for Mananga task force; peace and order; and Talisay sports commission were each reduced to P500,000 from the original P1 million.

The appropriation for sports and development was also reduced to P500,000 from the original P2 million.

Alesna said they also reduced the appropriation for gasoline, oil and lubricant expenses from P2 million to P500,000 because there are still unused funds from the 2015 appropriation.

Per records at the City Accounting Office, Alesna said, only P1.6 million was utilized from the P4 million allocation for gasoline, oil and lubricant in the 2015 annual budget.

"Nganong mangayo pa man siya og additional budget nga wala man gani nahurot og utilize ang P4 million appropriation intended for the said items. So reasonable ang among pag-reduce sa supplemental budget," Alesna said.

Under the supplement, the council approved zero out of the P2.5 million proposed for the senior citizens of the city.

The council, however, did not slash the P4 million financial aid to the barangays and the P8.451 million intended for various lot purchases.