Council quizzes ‘loopholes’ in budget
By Ian Ocampo Flora
ANGELES CITY -- It was the “hot seat” for the city budget officer here last Tuesday, as the City Council started its hearing on the proposed executive budget of the City Government.
City Budget Officer Fe Corpuz underwent heavy bombardment of questions as the council investigated what it calls as “loopholes” in the proposed budget amounting to P986,218.
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Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting expressed her worries regarding the “lump sum presentation” of some aspects of the budget.
“There are certain requirements like the annual investment plan and the program of work of the department and units to which the funds would be appropriated that are not yet presented to us. Another thing is the lump sum presentation that should have been itemized,” she said, stressing that without such procedures the City Government “may use the funds wherever they intend to.”
“There are certain loopholes in the proposal that the budget office should look into,” Cabigting added.
Corpuz, for her part, said the annual investment plan has not yet been accounted for since the City Planning Office had not given the necessary documents.
Meanwhile, Councilor Willie Rivera called the attention of the budget officer regarding the “lack” of appropriation for the Public Attorneys Office (PAO).
“The City Government started giving allowances to public lawyers since 1999 and it surprises me that there seems to be no allocation for them (PAO),”Rivera said.
However, Corpuz said her office has not received any request from PAO.
The session ended with the council not having a definite say on the executive budget. But Cabigting is still optimistic that the issue would be put to light in the coming days.
“This is still part of the usual process for budget approval,” Cabigting assured. (IOF)
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