Suan says he’d vote against Moreno’s P6.5-b budget

By NITZ ARANCON
and LITO RULONA
Correspondents .

AN opposition councilor on Monday said he would vote against Mayor Oscar Moreno’s proposed P6.5-billion city hall budget for 2019, saying it was a far cry from the local government’s actual annual revenues

Councilor Lordan Suan expressed opposition to the proposed budget because, according to the legislator, city hall’s actual annual tax collection is only some P3.3 billion.

The councilor said this even before the city council could start deliberating on the proposed P6.5-billion budget for next year.

Mayor Moreno has proposed a 2019 budget of P6.5 billion, citing city hall’s projected revenues next year.

For next year, city hall projects local tax revenues of P3.207 billion, non-tax revenues of P1.022 billion, external revenues of  P1.761 billion. Its internal revenue allotment from the national government is expected to reach P1.665 billion.

In the proposal, 55 percent of the 2019 budget would be spent on services, infrastructure and other city hall programs while 45 percent would be for personnel services, inclusive of the salaries of its officials and workers. The proposal shows an increase of  about 10 percent compared to city hall’s P5.8-billion budget this year.

Another opposition councilor, Leon Gan, said he would support Moreno’s proposed budget only if it can be supported.

Gan said he cannot support a proposed budget that would mean more tax burden on the shoulders of people in Cagayan de Oro.

“Ngano supakon man nato kung kini matinud-anon?” Gan asked rhetorically.

Gan said councilors would look into city hall’s finances, including its revenues this year, in order to determine if Moreno’s proposed budget can be justified.

Moreno earlier assured that his proposed budget would not mean additional or increased local taxes. But he said that city hall would increase revenues by stepping up collection efforts based on 2010 tax rates.

Councilor Edna Dahino, chairperson of the city council’s finance committee, said Moreno’s proposal would be scrutinized by the city council and just like previous proposed budgets, it would “pass through the eye of the needle.”

Dahino called on members of the city’s legislature not to jump to conclusions until they could carefully go through the proposed 2019 budget.

“Dili kini nato basta-bastahon kay lisod kaayo kung atong dali-dalion,” said Dahino. “Medyo bug-at ang hisgutanan. Kinahanglan gyud nga kami tanan.”

Dahino said  the city council’s committee of finance and appropriations would lead in discussing Moreno’s proposal in the second week of November. She said city hall’s department heads would be asked to justify the proposed budget.

“We will see kung asa nato dapat kuhaon kanang mga kuwartaha,” Dahino said. “Dili pa ako mo-ingon nga kaya gyud nato ang pagkuha sa P6.5 billion. Ato pa kining lili-on based on the present collection and the 2018 budget.”

Councilor George Goking said Moreno’s proposed budget is reflective of the revenues that city hall is capable of generating next year.

“Kaya,” he said when asked if it is doable.

He said the more it can be done if city hall “levels up” its real property tax collections.

He is proposing the amendment of an eight-year-old ordinance on real property taxes in order to beef up city hall’s income.

Goking said that if he can have it his way, he would increase real property taxes in the city to a level similar to the rates of other highly urbanized cities in the country.

Moreno said his proposal pales in comparison to the budgets of cities like Makati and Quezon cities.

“Mo-abot nag P13 billion ang budget sa Makati ug Quezon City. Ma-o na nga if you want to compete, then maningkamot lang ta,” he said.

Councilors Teodulfo Lao Jr. and Enrico Salcedo said they would support the budget proposal of Moreno.

“OK ko ana. Walay problema na sa ako kay kanunay man ta mosuporta sa mga programa ni Mayor Moreno,” said Lao.

Councilor Salcedo said he would also support the proposal knowing that it is in line with the Moreno administration’s eight-point agenda.

But Councilor Suzette  Magtajas-Daba said it was too early to comment on Moreno’s budget proposal because it has yet to be tackled by local legislatures.

“Mag-budget hearing pa man mi,” Daba said.