Misor board to table 2020 budget next week

By Shiela Mae Butlig
Correspondent

Misamis Oriental’s annual budget ordinance for 2020 has been calendared for approval for the second reading in Sangguniang Panlalawigan next week.

However, Board Member Wayne Militante objected during this week’s session saying that the ordinance should immediately approved for second reading.

Vice Gov. Jeremy Jonahmar Pelaez said the annual budget ordinance must first be looked on and studied before approving for the second reading.

“Kug atong i-approve dayon, it’s not an ordinary resolution. Kinahanglan mahibal-an sa mga kauban nga dili part sa komitiba,” Pelaez said.

Militante and Board Member Gerardo Sabal expressed disappointment at Pelaez for not receiving the annual budget documents which they said they transmitted on Nov. 15 since the vice governor’s staff allegedly declined to receive them.

For his part, Pelaez insisted that nobody from his staff received any official documents since it was not a “proper transmittal” because there was no name and office of the intended recipient printed on the document.

Militante opined that had Pelaez received the documents, it would have given him sufficient time to study the documents.

In response, Pelaez reiterated that they will tackle the budget ordinance in their next session saying: “Taas pa kaayo ang panahon. Ma approve man gyud ni kay kamo man ang majority.”

Committee on rules chairman Vincent Pelaez concurred with Militante and Sabal by citing their house rules.

“Under parliamentary rules, ang presiding officer igo lang siya mo preside. If the presiding officer knows that there is lapas in authority, he cannot decide nga sayop na. Pwede siya mo question sa other agencies like sa DILG,” he pointed out.

In the end, the vice governor calendared the budget ordinance for approval for the second reading during their next session.

“Ako pang tan-awon ang ilang gipa receive nga annual budget. Unya pa nato na mahibaw-an ug pila gi slashed sa atong budget. Kung naa man na, Merry Christmas,” Pelaez said in an interview after the sessions.