DBM declaration on inoperative budget not a shocker, say Capitol dads
“Told them so.” “I knew it was coming.” “Not a shocker.” “Will just ask for reconsideration.”
Such summed up the reactions of board members on the once again controversial Capitol budget – all P275,878,442.82 disbursed in December 2008.
With the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) declaring such as inoperative in its entirety, said development though did not come as a ‘shocker.’
For First District Board Member Richard Garin, a reconsideration will just be sought while maintaining the propriety of the legislative approval.
“The DBM review failed to contemplate the fact that an Ordinance should be prospective in nature,” Garin said. “The SP by approving the Appropriation Ordinance No. 2008-06 took cognizance of the fact that an Appropriation Ordinance can never be given a retroactive effect. This is the reason why it only covered the total amount of almost P276 million in order to meet our obligations for the month of December 2008.”
“Moreover, one cannot see how this Sanggunian can ratify the expenses incurred by the governor from January 1 to November 30, 2008 absent any provision of law to that effect,” he continued.
As such, Garin led calls for reconsideration to be pursued before the DBM.
A somehow similar take on the issue by Second District Board Member June Mondejar and Fourth District Board Member Shalene Hidalgo.
“I expected this declaration but then we all sat down in December and agreed on the approval and passage of AO 2008-06,” Mondejar said. “It was a unanimous decision.”
“Well history repeats itself now… this is not a shocker and I have expected this because I knew we cannot pass an Annual Budget that is good for one month only,” Hidalgo for her part shared. “But we all agreed to approve it anyway.”
As for Third District Board Member Mariano Malones, the appropriation is valid yet with the DBM saying otherwise, Malones said the SP must abide.
“I believe it is valid but now we cannot do anything but follow what the DBM says. If eventually the Commission on Audit will disallow the expense, then we will refund if ordered to do so,” he said.
“I told them so. I told them so back in December when we had our Executive meeting. I knew it was not valid. I told them so,” First District Board Member Mac Napulan quipped when pressed for a quick reaction.