Espinosa’s supplemental budget slashed

The supplemental budget requested by Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III has been slashed by more than 50 percent.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), during its regular session on Tuesday, Oct. 16, unanimously approved Espinosa’s proposed budget.

But the amount was reduced to P45, 088, 408.09 from P130, 088, 408.89.

The SP junked two items in the supplemental budget.

These items are the land development for the proposed Iloilo City Sports Arena in Brgy. San Pedro, Molo amounting to P35 million, and the construction of a multi-purpose building near Iloilo City Hall worth P50 million.

Councilor Plaridel Nava, the new deputy floor leader and chair of the SP’s Committee on Appropriations, said: “The sources of funds are in order and substantial. However, the committee is not convinced with two items. These must be rejected and remain unappropriated.”

According to him, the sports arena is “not practicable and unnecessary as of this time.”

“We have not even granted the mayor the authority to contract a loan for the construction of this sports arena. Let’s wait for that first before we decide to allocate budget, that is why we reject that,” Nava said.

The councilor was also unconvinced of the immediate need to construct the multi-purpose building.

“For the same reason, the appropriation of the said items is not practical and necessary at this stage when the city is facing with numerous problems like the bad state its public markets, drainage system, access roads and viaduct in the depressed areas,” Nava said.

The third-termer councilor is seeking the vice mayoral post in the 2019 polls.

Nava is part of the team of former Rep. Pacita Gonzalez, who is running for mayor against Espinosa and and Congressman Jerry P. Trenas.

SOURCE; Iloilo Metropolitan Times

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