Aside from all other activities and customs every new year, this season signals the start of budget talks both in the national and local governments. And what a big bang for Pampanga, Gov. Eddie T. Panlilio once again overtook his colleagues during the Sangguniang Panlalawigan budget hearing last Tuesday. By saying that he is “not privy to the development plans of Pampanga” when asked to justify the P2 million proposed budget of the provincial investment and promotions office (PIPO), the governor added another feather to his cap of blunders.
It is quite ironic and embarrassing for a governor not to be privy to the development plans of his province. Given Panlilio the benefit of the doubt, assuming that he is not privy to the details, he should have at least enumerated the projects and programs of PIPO and its impact to the people in general. But to admit of not knowing the specific development plans for the province is a bitter admission of the ineptness that has long been accused of him as a leader.
Still on budget talks, Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting was vindicated after all. The administration of Mayor Francis “Blueboy” Nepomuceno failed to follow protocol in submitting the 2008 budget before the Department of Budget Management (DBM).
In a recent ruling, no less than Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., said “the annual budget as transmitted for review must bear the signature of the Vice Mayor, as presiding officer, and the attestation by the Secretary to the Sanggunian.”
Andaya added that “the Secretary to the Sanggunian who should forward the FY 2008 Annual Budget of Angeles City to the DBM-RO III for its review.”
All of these though were violated. In the case of Angeles City’s 2008 budget, Cabigting said the it was Nepomuceno who submitted the annual budget and not Atty. Eric Mendoza, the secretary to the Sanggunian. She added that her signature and the attestation of Mendoza were not in the said budget.
Considering that there was a breach on the protocol in the submission of the 2008 budget amounting to P986.2 million, the question is, “What will be the penalty for the erring local government unit or official?”
Also, given that the budget was not “technically approved” by the DBM national office, will the city government be accountable for following an “unapproved” budget for 2008? The Nepomuceno administration has been working on the P986.2 million for 2008. Was this legal then when they failed to comply with the proper procedures with the DBM?
Cabigting said she is contemplating on filing charges against the mayor for this lapse on DBM procedures. Whether or not the case be filed, still it is clear that Cabigting was vindicated in her call for proper procedures in submitting the budget. It is not the mayor who should have submitted the budget and her signature is required in the transmittal documents.
But all of these are water under the bridge because we are starting a new year and a new budget for 2009 must be submitted. I just hope that the Nepomuceno administration will be well-guided this time and strictly follow protocol as advised by Sec. Andaya.
In another note, Angeles City Veterinarian Dr. Jesse Villaroman has clarified that the hiring of new job order employees in his department is a necessary development for the establishment of an Information, Education and Communication (IEC Team) for the city government’s anti-rabies campaign. In the next two to three months, Villaroman said an ordinance will be passed for a comprehensive program against rabies, which will include dog registration and implant of micriochips and tags for ownership.
Villaroman likewise belied reports that there is an ongoing clean-up drive among the rank and file employees of the city hall. The reorganization at the slaughterhouse for example, he said, is just part of the streamlining program to maximize the efficiency of the city personnel. Besides, Villaroman said the city slaughterhouse is now being run by a private firm and the city is only maintaining a regulatory function for meat standards as well as collections of mandatory fees.
Although I respect the city veterinarian’s explanation, the clean-up drive is still visible elsewhere within the halls of the city government. The slaughterhouse turn-over could be another case, but it cannot be disputed that other people close to the former administrator Bong Alvaro were already stripped off their powers. There, I will not repeat what I have written before. But a clean-up is a clean-up, no matter how you put it.
It is quite ironic and embarrassing for a governor not to be privy to the development plans of his province. Given Panlilio the benefit of the doubt, assuming that he is not privy to the details, he should have at least enumerated the projects and programs of PIPO and its impact to the people in general. But to admit of not knowing the specific development plans for the province is a bitter admission of the ineptness that has long been accused of him as a leader.
Still on budget talks, Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting was vindicated after all. The administration of Mayor Francis “Blueboy” Nepomuceno failed to follow protocol in submitting the 2008 budget before the Department of Budget Management (DBM).
In a recent ruling, no less than Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., said “the annual budget as transmitted for review must bear the signature of the Vice Mayor, as presiding officer, and the attestation by the Secretary to the Sanggunian.”
Andaya added that “the Secretary to the Sanggunian who should forward the FY 2008 Annual Budget of Angeles City to the DBM-RO III for its review.”
All of these though were violated. In the case of Angeles City’s 2008 budget, Cabigting said the it was Nepomuceno who submitted the annual budget and not Atty. Eric Mendoza, the secretary to the Sanggunian. She added that her signature and the attestation of Mendoza were not in the said budget.
Considering that there was a breach on the protocol in the submission of the 2008 budget amounting to P986.2 million, the question is, “What will be the penalty for the erring local government unit or official?”
Also, given that the budget was not “technically approved” by the DBM national office, will the city government be accountable for following an “unapproved” budget for 2008? The Nepomuceno administration has been working on the P986.2 million for 2008. Was this legal then when they failed to comply with the proper procedures with the DBM?
Cabigting said she is contemplating on filing charges against the mayor for this lapse on DBM procedures. Whether or not the case be filed, still it is clear that Cabigting was vindicated in her call for proper procedures in submitting the budget. It is not the mayor who should have submitted the budget and her signature is required in the transmittal documents.
But all of these are water under the bridge because we are starting a new year and a new budget for 2009 must be submitted. I just hope that the Nepomuceno administration will be well-guided this time and strictly follow protocol as advised by Sec. Andaya.
In another note, Angeles City Veterinarian Dr. Jesse Villaroman has clarified that the hiring of new job order employees in his department is a necessary development for the establishment of an Information, Education and Communication (IEC Team) for the city government’s anti-rabies campaign. In the next two to three months, Villaroman said an ordinance will be passed for a comprehensive program against rabies, which will include dog registration and implant of micriochips and tags for ownership.
Villaroman likewise belied reports that there is an ongoing clean-up drive among the rank and file employees of the city hall. The reorganization at the slaughterhouse for example, he said, is just part of the streamlining program to maximize the efficiency of the city personnel. Besides, Villaroman said the city slaughterhouse is now being run by a private firm and the city is only maintaining a regulatory function for meat standards as well as collections of mandatory fees.
Although I respect the city veterinarian’s explanation, the clean-up drive is still visible elsewhere within the halls of the city government. The slaughterhouse turn-over could be another case, but it cannot be disputed that other people close to the former administrator Bong Alvaro were already stripped off their powers. There, I will not repeat what I have written before. But a clean-up is a clean-up, no matter how you put it.
