The Catanduanes Tribune


Vol. XX No. 44	January 10, 2001	Virac, Catanduanes

Headlines

Major Developments

The Catanduanes Tribune

Rawis, Virac

Catanduanes,

Philippines - 5001

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   (052) 811-1267

   or 811-2640

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   (052) 811-1267

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Edwin A. Gianan

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Simeon G. Cueno

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Richard T. Revelar

Calgary, Canada

Headline News

Bad start for 2001

Gov. Sanchez reenacts 2000 prov'l budget

Governor Hector S. Sanchez last week reenacted the 2000 budget of the provincial government following the failure of the fractious Sangguniang Panlalawigan to consider and approve the P238-million Annual Appropriations Ordinance for this year.

In his very first Memorandum for 2001 issued to Vice Gov. Alfred M. Aquino, members of the provincial board and department heads, Sanchez informed that the ordinance authorizing the appropriations of the preceding year shall be deemed reenacted pursuant to Section 4.3.1 of the Budget Operations Manual for Local Government Units.

In the implementation of the reenacted budget, which is P15 million less than the 2001 allocation, only annual appropriations for salaries and wages of existing positions, statutory and contractual obligations, and essential operating expenses in the Annual and Supplemental Budgets for the preceding year shall be reenacted and disbursement of funds shall be in accordance therewith.

The governor said the reenactment is necessary "in order that the normal operation of the local government is not interrupted due to the failure of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to pass the ordinance authorizing the appropriations of the ensuing year."

However, according to information gleaned by the Tribune from various official sources who chose not to be identified, the provincial board is not entirely to blame for the budgeting fiasco.

Records at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan show that the proposed 2001 executive budget was received at the board by Records Officer Ma. Victoria Bagadiong only on December 5, 2000, 50 days after the supposed deadline.

Sec. 318 of the Local Government Code of 1991 provides that the local chief executive shall submit the budget to the sanggunian concerned not later that October 16 of the current fiscal year. "Failure to submit such budget on the date prescribed herein shall submit the local chief executive to such criminal and administrative penalties..." the Code stresses.

The sources did not say why Gov. Sanchez ignored the October 16 deadline for the submission of the 2001 executive budget despite its being transmitted to the governor's office on time. One said that the governor's frequent travels to Manila, which limited his stay at his capitol office to a few days at most, probably prevented his early consideration and signing of the budget documents.

While the budget was submitted to the SP on December 5, 2000, the appropriations ordinance was not calendared by SP Secretary Ursus de Quiroz until the "inaugural" session last Monday, January 8, 2000. As of presstime last week, knowledgeable sources say the Jan. 8 session would be adjourned early or marred by a walkout of pro-Sanchez members who would be questioning the deletion of the names of PBMs Magin Isuela and Fred A. Gianan, Jr. from the notice of meeting as well as the inclusion of ousted SK provincial federation president Jenor Sollegue. It may be noted that since the rift between Gov. Sanchez and Rep. Leandro B. Verceles, Jr. worsened into an all-out proxy war at the board, Vice Gov. Aquino has not been able to muster a quorum in most of the legislative body's meetings due to political and procedural differences.

Sources say the widely-held perception that the SP wrangling would continue along with its failure to hold controversy-free regular sessions moved Gov. Sanchez to jump the gun and direct the reenactment of last year's budget.

The Code provides that in case the board fails to pass the executive budget, it shall continue to hold sessions, without additional remuneration for its members, until such ordinance is approved, and no other business may be taken up during such sessions. Only after 90 days from the beginning of the fiscal year shall the appropriations ordinance for 2000 be deemed reenacted, it adds.