SP nod up on P48.6M add'l Capitol budget
New cars, anti-riot gears, P3.5 gas money in the offing

By Florence F. Hibionada
Correspondent  

A week after it was first presented on the floor for deliberations, the Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) now hears out the recommendation for the approval of over P48 million in additional Capitol budget.

This, after the SP Comittee on Appropriations moved to secure the body's nod on the findings as contained in Committee Report No. 20. Included in today's (Tuesday) agenda of the regular session, said committee recommendations pushed almost in its entirety the breakdown of expenditures as originally sought by Governor Niel Tupas. Principal proponent of the approval is the governor's son, Board Member Niel Tupas Jr., chair of the SP Committee on Appropriations.

The P48.6 million supplemental budget contains major appropriations that would see three new cars for the Iloilo Provincial Government, one for the office of the Governor valued at over P2.3 million, and one vehicle at P980,000 each for the offices of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) and the Provincial Cooperative and Development Office (PCDO).

It would also see an additional P3.5 million in gasoline, oil and lubricant expense for the Provincial Engineer's Office (PEO) and the over P8 million for "donation" to barangay health workers, service point officers and day care workers.

The News Today learned of earlier move by four board members belonging to the 'conscience bloc' to move Tuesday's session to another day. Such after the group formed part of the official Iloilo contingent invited in the President's State of the Nation Address (SONA). Yet with the majority of the board members present, the session will push through as scheduled. A check made with the SP secretariat has yet to get the official count of those members on official business.

Total amount up for approval in Supplemental Budget No. 2 is P48,615,061.55. Leave credits of Capitol workers up for monetization is also included reaching the P7 million mark. |