City turns down Ganzon's request for P6M fund for city college
The city government junked the request of a city councilor to appropriate P6 million fund for the establishment of a city college.
City Treasurer Katherine Tingson said the city government could not afford to finance the plan to establish a city college for lack of adequate budget. She said, the plan is impossible to realize within 2008 until 2009.
Tingson's statement was in response to the request of Councilor Jeffrey Ganzon for the allocation of funds for the city college. The request was coursed through Mayor Jerry Treñas. It was not immediately known whether the P6 million is for the construction of a school or will be used as operational fund.
Tingson explained that under the Local Government Code, the city government could not release funds for tertiary education which would be sourced out from the Special Education Fund (SEF). The SEF is only applicable for basic elementary and secondary education.
The programs for non-formal education is also covered by SEF. The SEF is sourced from the city's Real Property Tax (RPT). One percent of the total RPT is set aside for the SEF. The release of funds and the approval of the projects relative to elementary and secondary education is deliberated by members of the Local School Board.
Ganzon's request was referred to the Local Finance Board which is also chaired by Tingson. The only option left for Ganzon is to source the budget from the General Fund. However, the approval of the request is subject for the availability of funds. The city has no sufficient fund even in its General Fund, said Tingson.
The city's Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) in 2008 is P420 million. It will decrease in 2009 to P412 million. The city also has to implement the 10 percent increase in the salary of the employees as mandated by law, said Tingson.
Meanwhile, Nani Guillergan, Iloilo School Board secretary said they have requested Councilor Ganzon to submit feasibility study regarding his plan for a city college.
The feasibility study on the proposed establishment of a city college must accompany a concept and operation plan. The request for the establishment of a city college was not accompanied by a feasibility study, he said.