Getting no document, finance committee calls off budget hearings

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

THE city council’s finance committee yesterday called off deliberations on Mayor Oscar Moreno’s proposed P4.8-billion budget for this year after city hall department heads rejected the local legislature’s demand for financial documents.

The decision was made by the Committee on Finance, Ways and Means after acting city administrator Dionne Gersana said the city hall department heads were under instructions not to accede to the city council’s demand.

Gersano said Moreno already sent a letter to the city council to state his position, and has decided not to submit anything during the budget deliberations.

Councilors asked department heads if they were furnished copies of Moreno’s letter but they opted to keep mum.

Gersana answered on behalf of the department heads, and explained that they all agreed to follow Moreno’s decision.

“We had a meeting with the mayor before the year ended, and they know what the content of the letter was. It was discussed during our meeting. It is now with the members of the city council because it seems that there is a deadlock now,” he said.

In the letter to the city council, Moreno stated that the city council majority was out on a fishing expedition, and only wanted data in order to discredit his administration. He also stated that he and the city council distrust each other, and that he would not accede to its demands because the legislature’s actions were already beyond it powers and functions.

Councilor Alden Bacal, the committee’s vice chairman, said local legislators would not be able to have intelligent discussions on the proposed budget unless they see how city hall spent funds in the previous annual budget.

“I hope you understand nga kinahanglan namo ang inyong documents para makita nato kung unsaon pag-improve ang matag-opisina based on the previous year’s performance,” Bacal said.

“It is very hard for us to determine (based) only on the balances,” he said.

Gersana however asserted that there was really no need for the department heads and other local executive bodies to submit anything. “We maintain our stand together with the city mayor,” he said.