Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Mystery of Numancia’s 2011 Budget

"It is patently false that I advised our department heads to skip attendance in SB budget hearings or not to cooperate with them to pass the budget". This above quoted statement came from Mayor Adolfo M. Iligan of Numancia, Aklan. He said this during the "Kapehan" program on Saturday morning, July 2, 2011 held in Smokehaus Resto and Bar, Poblacion, Kalibo.

Numancia, Aklan until today, July 29 is operating on a 2010 budget. Due to the differences of opinion and failure of communication between the Sangguniang Bayan of Numancia and the executive offices Mayor Iligan heads, Numancia’s budget for 2011 is returned to the executive office for the inabilities of the department heads to provide appropriate responses to some questions of some SB members.

According to Atty. Filemon C. Fernandez who represents the League of Brgy. Captains, sessions were regularly held every Tuesday of the week to pass the 2011 Budget.

"However, on February 22, things went awry. No Local Finance Committee member attended (our session) despite our request", revealed Fernandez.

Who Tells Lie?

"So our session was suspended. The main reason is the office Memo of Mayor Iligan Advising them (local finance committee members) to boycott SB sessions", said Atty. Fernandez.

This Fernandez allegation was vehemently denied by Mayor Iligan on the July 2, Kapehan. But what he said was the opposite of what he wrote.

In a paragraph of his better to Numancia Vice Mayor. Evangeline M. Ibabao, Mayor Iligan wrote: "The Local Chief Executive has therefore enjoined the persons invited not to appear in today’s and in any future hearings for the Annual Executive Budget 2011…" The said letter is dated May 3, 2011 which is herewith reprinted.

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
May 3, 2011

The Honorable
Sangguniang Bayan Members
Numancia, Aklan

Thru: Hon. Evangeline M. Ibabao
Vice Mayor/Presiding Officer

Dear Madam/Sirs:

This is in response to an invitation of that body requesting the appearance of Mrs. Elisa C. Solanoy (Municipal Treasurer), Mrs. Jaimma V. Maribojo (Municipal Budget Officer), Mrs. Soledad U. Mateo (Municipal Accountant), and Mr. Rosendo M. Briones (MPDC), to appear as resource persons in today’s regular session – where the Sanggunian will continue to deliberate on the 2011 Annual Executive Budget and the Annual Investment Plan.

Be it recalled that the Annual Executive Budget for 2011 was submitted to that body for deliberation on November 25, 2010, and in several scheduled regular sessions/special meetings, they have appeared and explained to the Sanggunian relevant concerns of said body.

Up to this time, the body has not come up with its decision. Our office has even suggested that the SB prepare(s) in advance the questions that they intend to ask from the resource persons, but this was not done.

If the purpose of the Sanggunian is to elicit information in aid of legislation, the same could not be done because there is no pending ordinance where information on the budget is necessary. This has been made clear in the decision of the Honorable Supreme Court, copy of which was furnished that office on March 7, 2011, wherein it was ruled, in the case of NEGROS ORIENTAL II ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC., PATERIO TORRES and ARTURO UMBAC, petitioners, vs. SANGGUNIANG PANGLUNGSOD OF DUMAGUETE, THE AD HOC COMMITTEE OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANGLUNGSOD OF DUMAGUETE, AND ANTONIO S. RAMAS UYPICHING, respondents, that the legislative bodies of local government units may invite resource persons who are willing to supply information which may be relevant to a pending proposed ordinance of the Sangguniang Bayan.

However, if the purpose is merely to elicit facts and information on matters relative to the budget which they could not understand, then they should be diligent enough to gather by themselves such facts and information from the different department heads concerned without necessarily asking for their appearance.

It would appear that the Sanggunian is delaying the approval of the budget without any plausible reason. According to some resource persons who appeared in one of their regular sessions, Hon. Bayani M. Cordova manifested that the Annual Executive Budget for 2011 will not be approved if their demand for the creation of three (3) positions in the Office of the Sangguniang Bayan is not granted.

It has been explained to them that their demand cannot be met at this time because creating three (3) positions in the Sanggunian will exceed our PS Cap.

By the delay, the 20% Development Fund which amounts to about P8 million, could not be utilized by the municipality for its social, economic, and environmental services.
The Local Chief Executive has therefore enjoined the persons invited not to appear in today’s and in any future hearings for the Annual Executive Budget 2011 and the Annual Investment Plan 2011, the same being a mere exercise in futility.

It is requested that the Sanggunian now approves the 2011 Annual Executive Budget, and if majority are objecting thereto, the names of those who object to its approval should be entered into the records.

Let copies of this response be furnished all Punong Barangays, this municipality, for their information.

Very truly yours,
(Sgd.) ADOLFO M. ILIGAN
Municipal Mayor