SP body tackles today P275M inoperative budget
And it’s back to the halls of the Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP). All nearly P276 million in Capitol “holiday” appropriation and expenditures that failed to meet government-prescribed requirements.
What to do? Where to go next?
For the Department of Budget of Management (DBM), this is one major multi-million problem that the Iloilo Provincial Government must resolve.
The DBM in a letter coursed through Governor Niel Tupas Sr. notified the SP body that Appropriation Ordinance 2008-06 is “inoperative in its entirety effective immediately….” The DBM notification was dated March 20, 2009 signed by no less than DBM Secretary Rolando Andaya.
“Pursuant to the provisions of the Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 (the Code), we have reviewed Appropriation Ordinance (AO) No. 2008-06 dated December 9, 2008 (an ordinance providing for an Annual Budget for CY 2008), which was received by this Department on December 12, 2008,” the DBM letter went. “A review thereof shows that it has not complied with the requirements under the Code.”
As such, P275,878,442.82 in Capitol disbursements then made are in peril.
To note, a slice of the budget valued at least P23 million went to the controversial cash gifts to barangay health workers. Governor Tupas and Vice Governor Rolex Suplico went at odds over said expenditure with Suplico providing for a different system in the manner of fund release. The governor’s wishes though prevailed with thousands of beneficiaries flocking the Capitol. The eventual release was marked by a program likened by Suplico to a political rally.
“It’s a gift from the Iloilo Provincial Government and not from the Tupas family,” stressed by Suplico.
With the DBM declaration, all P23 million now became an Iloilo Provincial Government responsibility.
The questioned expenditures further included over P50 million in cash gifts to Capitol workers who got P35,000 each as Christmas bonuses.
AO 2008-06 was passed to meet the December expenditures of the Iloilo Provincial Government following a tumultuous and continuing battle on the Capitol budget.
“It is to be noted that providing appropriations for only one month (i.e., December) of a fiscal year (2008) may not be considered as the Annual Budget…,” the letter added.