Town council asks Prov’l Board to review disapproved budget

CEBU, Philippines - Pinamungajan town officials have asked the Provincial Board to reconsider its resolution disapproving the supplemental budget amounting to P10.5 million.

The order to return the supplemental budget was based on the findings of the PB committee on budget and appropriation that the municipal council failed to obtain the majority vote of all its members for its passage and enactment.

 Mayor Glenn Baricuatro and four councilors in their letter for reconsideration pointed out that the PB was in view that a qualified majority (one-half plus one of all the members of the municipal council) is required to validly pass an appropriation ordinance.

 â€œWith all due respect, we submit that the view is in error, there being no basis in law to support the same,” read the letter dated March 26, 2014 addressed to the PB Members through Vice Governor Agnes Magpale.

 On December 5, the town council passed the supplemental budget in the presence of Vice Mayor Maria Honeylette Yapha-Lingad, eight councilors and Tutay Barangay Captain Rhaabe Norteza allegedly representing the Association of Barangay Councils.

 Baricuatro said the attendance of Norteza was controversial since the ABC after the barangay election on October 2013 had yet elected its representative to the council.

 Lingad reportedly acknowledged Norteza as ex-officio member of the council in view of his capacity as secretary of the previous ABC and allowed to vote in the voting of the supplemental budget.

 The voting yielded the result of five in favor while four including Norteza voted against the supplemental budget.

 However, upon review by the PB committee on appropriations chaired by Board Member Grecilda Sanchez, it was ordered returned for failure to obtain a qualified majority vote.

 Baricuatro and other officials cited the opinion of the Department of Interior and Local Government dated February 9, 2010 which states that annual and supplemental appropriations, the same is to be enacted only by a simple majority vote which means one half plus one of the members who actually voted, there having been a quorum.

 In its letter dated March 6, 2014 addressed to Baricuatro, the DILG also opined that Norteza has no personality to represent the ABC nor was his vote for the approval of the supplemental budget valid.

 With this, Baricuatro and other officials stressed that the required number for a simple majority vote was obtained in the enactment of said supplemental budget with five votes is one half plus one of the eight members who actually voted.

 â€œA favorable decision of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan would greatly benefit our municipality as this would enable us to proceed with the delivery of basic services to our fellow Pinamungajanons through this subject supplemental budget,” they added. (FREEMAN)