Reenacted budget for Capitol held likely

CEBU, Philippines - With one Provincial Board session left before the year ends, the Province of Cebu is likely to operate on a reenacted budget in 2013.

The last PB session will be on December 17 but the proposed P3.6 billion annual budget for 2013 is still in the committee on budget and appropriations chaired by Board Member Peter John Calderon, which conducted a budget hearing last Monday.

“I don’t think we will be able to come up with a committee recommendation within the next few days,” said PB Member Jose Ribomapil Holganza Jr.

Opposition PB members are scrutinizing the proposed annual budget submitted by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

Among those questioned was the appropriation for advertising and promotions.

Vice Governor Agnes Magpale earlier said that radio blocktimers of  province-paid programs are attacking her.

All the department heads were asked to justify their proposed budget during the hearing.

Holganza who is allied with Garcia said he really does not know exactly what his colleagues are looking for in scrutinizing the proposed budget.

While it was new to some PB members how the budget hearing was conducted, Holganza, who served as PB member during the time of then governor Emilio “Lito” Osmeña, said that it was proper.

Holganza explained that the committee hearing gives the opposite camp an opportunity to assess the proposed budget.

One of the effects of the reenacted budget is the deletion of the appropriations for the Legislative Assistance Fund of the PB members and the office of the vice governor.

In the reenacted budget, only appropriations for contractual obligations such as salaries and wages and maintenance and other operating expenses of the current budget shall be left.

Holganza said that the PB can hold special sessions to deliberate the committee recommendation.

He added that the PB can still tackle the proposed appropriation next year while the province is operating on a reenacted budget effective January 1 until the budget for the year is finally approved.

Garcia submitted to the PB a P3.673 billion proposed annual budget, which is .41 percent higher than this year’s P3.658 billion. /MBG (FREEMAN)