MikeLigalig.com

By Bohol Chronicle

Unhampered by incisive deliberations and the usual questioning of opposition lawmakers, the P383-million 2010 budget of Tagbilaran City was approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) on Friday.

Despite its smooth sailing approval during the SP regular session, City Councilor Bebiano Inting of the minority bloc asked from City Budget Officer Rosemarie Palma a detailed report on accumulated surplus amounting over P100-million since 2007 and a more comprehensive analysis on loans incurred in prior years.

Inting, a certified public accountant, questioned the budget officer why there was a need to acquire loans despite the huge surplus.

The 2010 budget of the city is P8-million more than the actual expenditure of P375-million in 2009. The 2009 regular budget was P337-million supplemented by a loan of P50-million, Inting noted.

The budget officer made the usual assurances to provide the SP with documents pertaining to the annual appropriations even as Inting said they have been promised of this long time ago by the budget officer.
         
According to Palma , her office has not yet prepared the annual development report for the preceding fiscal year. She added that the items requested by Inting can only be determined when last year's books of accounts have been closed.

Palma explained that appropriations have been made out of the accumulated surplus.

Inting stressed that the budget officer should give an account on how much of the prior years' savings have been obligated and the corresponding amount of the unappropriated balance.

In several instances the city budget office made assurances to provide documents on financial transactions of the city government but failed to sugmit as she did not get clearance from the city mayor.

INCREASES

Curiously, Kag. Inting noted a significant increase of about P20-million on the Other Maintenance and Operating Expenses (OMOE) and personal services in the 2010 budget.

OMOE refers to expenses necessary for> the regular operations of a local government unit while personal services include payment of salaries and compensation of permanent and casual employees.

For this year, a big chunk of the budget is allocated to social services which include benefits given to senior citizens.

Meanwhile, the Blue Card free hospitalization program and the allocation for the Botika sa Katawhan have been included in the department budget of the City Health Office, Inting disclosed.

FULL DISCLOSURE?

With the elections just four months away, opposition city lawmakers have warned that the executive department to observe transparency to assure the public that this year's budget will be used efficiently for the delivery of basic goods and services.

It was made clear to the SP by the city executive that the passage of the 2010 budget is urgent and there are expenditures that needed immediate funding.

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