ILOILO – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) will not be able to approve the proposed P3.7-billion budget of the provincial government before this year is over. During his State of the Province Address on Dec. 11, Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. urged the SP to “set politics aside” and approve the budget.
Provincial Board member Dorothy Paes, chairperson of the appropriations committee, however, cited time constraints. She admitted being busy with other matters so her committee had not scheduled budget hearings this week.
“Indi lang ina aton obligasyon kay punong barangay kita,” said Paes, barangay captain of Balabag, Dumangas town and president of the Liga ng mga Barangay provincial federation.
Next week, SP members would also be taking their holiday break.
Paes said budget hearings would resume on the first week of January 2019.
“Anyway, may 90 days pa man kita sa pag-approve sang budget,” said Paes.
Paes said it would be no good to rush the proposed budget’s approval. She said the over 600 pages of it must be scrutinized.
“Medyo dugay-dugay ‘ni ang pagbusisi,” she said.
One of the items in the proposed budget that Paes wants to thoroughly check is the over P500-million Internal Revenue Allotment of the province.
Where the budget would be spent must be itemized, Paes stressed.
According to 1st District Provincial Board member Marcelo Valentin Serag, vice chairperson of the appropriations committee, what they have so far completed scrutinizing was the budget for district hospitals and provincial hospital.
The proposal has been stuck at the committee on appropriations for over a month now following the Nov. 13 reorganization of committees in the Provincial Board.
“Think not of our individual welfares or the welfares of our political patrons but consider first and foremost the welfare of our people,” Defensor appealed to SP members.
Paes is identified with the camp of Cong. Ferjenel Biron (4th District) who is running for governor against Defensor’s son, Cong. Arthur Defensor Jr. (3rd District) in the May 13, 2019 midterm elections.
It was SP member Manny Gallar, another political ally of Biron, who called for the reorganization of the SP committees last month.
Gallar is running for congressman of the 3rd District against Defensor’s son, SP member Lorenz Defensor.
Gallar, however, denied there were persons behind his reorganization call.
Defensor warned that the non-approval of the 2019 budget could hamper the provincial government’s pro-people and pro-development programs.
If the SP fails to approve it, the provincial government would be forced to operate on a reenacted 2018 budget.
Defensor said this could paralyze the operation of 12 district hospitals because 1,011 contract of service hospital staff (doctors, nurses and medical technologists) and 649 job hires would not be reappointed.
With a lack of personnel, Defensor further said, the district hospitals would not be able to “comply with the License-to-Operate requirements of the Department of Health (DOH).”
There would be “very adverse effects on our hospitals which, over the years, we have equipped with modern facilities and equipment,” added Defensor.
Also, capitol’s permanent, co-terminus and casual employees may not be able to receive the fourth tranche of their salary increase if the 2019 budget is not approved, the governor said.
GARIN REBUTS DEFENSOR
Vice Gov. Christine Garin, running mate of Congressman Biron, dismissed the governor’s claims.
She said the 1,660 personnel of 11 district hospitals and the Iloilo Provincial Hospital would still be able to receive their salaries under a reenacted 2018 provincial government budget.
“In a reenacted budget, the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses is fully enacted. Kon ano man ang expenses last year, amo man gihapon magamit this year. So, included man ang job hires,” said Garin.
The 1,660 personnel of the hospitals are made up of 649 job hires and 1,011 contract of service personnel.
For them to continue getting paid, said Garin, all the governor has to do is certify that the services of these personnel are essential and necessary.
Garin said she believed the services of the hospital personnel are essential and necessary, and nothing prevents the governor from issuing this certification.
The vice governor also said regular employees of the provincial government would be able to receive the fourth tranche of their salary increase once the 2019 budget is approved even if delayed./PN
