Council panel approves P469 million supplemental budget

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council's committee on budget and finance has recommended the approval of the executive department's proposed P469.46 million Supplemental Budget-1 this year.

During the regular session yesterday, the legislative panel approved the report of the Committee on Budget and Finance.

"This committee therefore interposes no objection to the submitted SB No. 1 for CY 2018," read a portion of the report.

Councilor Margarita Osmeña, vice chairperson of the committee, said the budget ordinance will be submitted next week since the committee will accommodate first the Annual Investment Plan this week as per Department of Budget and Management guidelines.

On May 23, the committee conducted a budget hearing to review the proposed additional budget for the year.

In its four-page committee report, the committee noted that the sources of funds will include the general fund proper and the special accounts.

About P38.9 million will come from realignment from current appropriations for personal services; P305.9 million from realignment from continuing appropriations; P58 million from prior years' adjustments; and P67 million from reversion of accounts payable.

Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera expressed her reservations on the proposed supplemental budget, saying a realigned budget is supposedly intended to acquire a lot for a public school in Barangay Calamba.

She said the barangay does not have any public school at the moment.

Pesquera was also concerned about the realigned P13 million supposedly for waterways, aqueducts, seawalls, river walls, which is also now being cited as one of sources of funds.

"Another thing reservation with the realignment of the water orthodoxy and rivers and walls and that particular budget is needed to protect lands and properties," she said.

Osmeña, for her part, clarified that the recommendations only came from a committee report, adding that the deliberations will take place when the budget ordinance will be presented to the City Council.

She said the Calamba school issue has present since 2009 yet but has not been acted upon. If the fund will be needed in the future, Osmeña said, the council can always discuss it again.

As for the budget for the waterways questioned by Pesquera, Osmeña said five years have passed but nothing has happened.

The final deliberation of the budget ordinance for the Supplemental Budget-1 is scheduled for June 5. — Marienel M. Janea, CNU intern/JMD (FREEMAN)