'Budget make-over' causes confusion, interlude in Capitol hearing
Day one of the deliberations on the 2009 Executive Budget of the Iloilo Provincial Government saw numerous interruptions and breaks. And it was not because of the P150 million increase from the current year's budget. Nor was it the P53 million earmarked for loan payments of the Capitol.
The 'culprit'? The new look of the Executive Budget vis-a-vis 'Budget Make-Over' that caused board members present and even Vice Governor Rolex Suplico to repeatedly ask, "what page please?"
Yesterday saw the start of the legislative validation with the Local Finance Committee members as resource persons. Focus of the questions raised was on the long-term obligations of the Capitol particularly the current loans, the statutory obligations and statement of fund operation.
Suplico was joined by Third District Board Member Arthur Defensor Jr., Second District Board Member June Mondejar, Ex-officio Board Member Jeneda Salcedo and First District Board Member Mac Napulan. Also present were representatives of First District Board Member Richard Garin and Fifth District Board Member Jesus Salcedo.
Defensor Jr. at one point had difficulty trying to match his "page 1" to the copies of other board members present. Salcedo for her part had to stand up to be sure that the pages being discussed and referred to are the same copies she was poring over.
Budget Officer Elena Lim was overheard requesting an associate to help the board members.
"Buligi to sila... lantawa to abi…(Assist them..will you go check it out)," she told another senior Capitol associate.
From page 499 of the debt amortization back to page 1 again and again, yesterday's deliberation heard basic questions on loan payments and period covered alongside interests being incurred.
The budget hearings continue with eight more days slated for the legislature to scrutinize every planned expenditures.