2019 BUDGET APPROVAL: Appropriations committee head ‘needs more time’

THE approval of the P3.712-billion 2019 executive budget remains uncertain as the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) has yet to discuss the matter a month before the year ends.

The budget was not included in the agenda of the SP’s regular session on Nov 27, 2018 because Liga ng mga Barangay Federation president Dorothy Paes, the new chairperson of the committee on appropriations, said she still has to discuss the 2019 budget with her vice chairpersons, fourth district Board Member Domingo Oso and first district BM Marcelo Valantin Serag.

Paes said she “needs more time” to review and scrutinize the 2019 budget handed down by the previous committee on appropriations chairman fifth district BM Nielo Tupas.

“Nabal-an ta nga tama ini ka sensitibo nga bagay kay kita iya bag-o lang kita nagpuungko. So ang aton nga ideya kagexperience sina dira medyo kulang pa and then ang kinahanglan guid naton is further study,” Paes said.

The new chairperson said she wants everything to progress unquestionably and will avoid rushing the process only for the sake of approval.

“Kinahanglan guid naton time nga matun-an na para ma-scrutinize na kag maisa isa kay budlay man nga padasigon ta naapprove, bal-an ta man aton responsibilidad kag ang risgo basi magabalik sa aton,” she said.

Paes also needs clarifications on the budget allotted for the Hospital Management Office (HMO) after initially going over the budget allocations.

“Ang didto may mga question sa HMO naton kay amo man to na-question naman sang the rest nga mga board members solantawon naton ah,” she said.

She said she missed one of the two budget hearings by the committee on appropriations, then chaired by BM Tupas.

“Tama ka damo nga iisa-isahon naton, indi naton mapahat-pahat in just two days lang like sang ligad nga gin-budget hearing namon for two days,” she added.

Paes eyes to call for a budget hearing next week.

SALARY INCREASE

The new chairperson is optimistic that the employees will be granted the fourth tranche of salary increase next year.

“Ginatinguhaan ta guid ina nga malab-ot guid  sa ila  kay te gin-allocate man na sa ila ni Governor so tinguhaon naton,” she said.

Vice Governor Christine “Ting-Ting” Garin said that the employees will still be granted their salary increase in case the budget approval will be delayed.

“Kung supposedly the increase in Janary kag wala sa gihapon maaprobahan (budget). Butang ta sa February pa maaprobahan, kung ano man tani ang increase sa January, ibalik man na sa gihapon sa ila,” she said in an interview on Nov 23.

SOURCE: The Daily Guardian

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