Lack of quorum stall Laoag budget again

No quorum. A near empty Sangguniang Panlungsod session hall welcomed the council’s January 14, 2019 regular session as the seven-member majority bloc were absent with only the five-member minority bloc attending the said session. (Doms dela Cruz)

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff reporter

Laoag City—The lack of a quorum stalled deliberations on the city’s proposed 2019 annual budget during the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s January 14, 2019 regular session.

The majority bloc, which earlier rejected the passage of the annual budget on January 3, 2019, were all absent: councilors Handy T. Lao, Portia Pamela R. Salenda, Ferdinand Domingo, Edison Bonoan, Roque Benjamin Ablan, Justine Chua and Michael M. Keon.

The five-strong minority bloc, composed of councilors Roger John C. Fariñas II, Shirley O. Sin, Edison Siazon, and ex-officio members Liga ng mga Barangay Laoag President Mary Michelle Louise “Mikee” V. Fariñas and Sangguniang Kabataan federated president Faye Lao, however were all present.

Though the proposed budget was not included in the agenda, the council was expected to tackle it again, as per the Local Government Code:

“SEC. 323. Failure to Enact the Annual Appropriations. - In case the sanggunian concerned fails to pass the ordinance authorizing the annual appropriations at the beginning of the ensuing fiscal year, it shall continue to hold sessions, without additional remuneration for its members, until such ordinance is approved, and no other business may be taken up during such sessions. If the sanggunian still fails to enact such ordinance after ninety (90) days from the beginning of the fiscal year, the ordinance authorizing the appropriations of the preceding year shall be deemed reenacted and shall remain in force and effect until the ordinance authorizing the proposed appropriations is passed by the sanggunian concerned. However, only the annual appropriations for salaries and wages of existing positions, statutory and contractual obligations, and essential operating expenses authorized in the annual and supplemental budgets for the preceding year shall be deemed reenacted and disbursement of funds shall be in accordance therewith. In the implementation of such reenacted ordinance, the local treasurer concerned shall exclude from the estimates of income for the preceding fiscal year those realized from nonrecurring sources, like national aids, proceeds from loans, sale of assets, prior year adjustments, and other analogous sources of income. No ordinance authorizing supplemental appropriations shall be passed in place of the annual appropriations. In case the revised income estimates be less than the aggregate reenacted appropriations, the local treasurer concerned shall accordingly advise the sanggunian concerned which shall, within ten (10) days from the receipt of such advice, make the necessary adjustments or reductions. The revised appropriations authorized by the sanggunian concerned shall then be the basis for disbursements.”

Prior to adjournment of the said session, Mrs. Sin requested a 10-minute recess so they can communicate and wait for their colleagues. The recess stretched for 30 minutes but none of the majority bloc members arrived.

Council secretary Enrico Aurelio said the secretariat called the missing members and and they gave various reasons for not attending the said session.

Laoag Vice Mayor and council presiding officer Franklin Dante A. Respicio said that anyone who cannot attend the session are considered absent unless they filed for “official business”. However, they should file prior notice if they are not going to attend a session.

Failure to attend regular session has a corresponding deduction in their representation and travel allowance (RATA), Mr. Respicio added.

The vice mayor also said that he can only speak for his niece, Ms.  Salenda, who was suffering from back pain, he disclosed.

“We will have to warn them if there will be consecutive absences as specified under the rules in the internal rules of procedures and in the corresponding rules under the Local Government Code,” Mr. Respicio warned.

Resubmitting the budget

Mr. Respicio also stated that the rejected proposed budget may be resubmitted by Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas or reintroduced by any council member, especially members of the finance committee, who have primary jurisdiction on all appropriation ordinances.

Reacting to this, Mrs. Sin said the disapproval of the budget affects the planned creation of new positions for the city government as well as programs, projects and activities designed to help the city’s residents.

She also stressed that the non-passage of the 2019 budget will also result in the non-utilization of the city’s internal revenue allotment (IRA) share for 2019; the non-implementation of non-recurring activities no matter how vital it may be; no supplemental appropriations; delayed approval of franchises; and they also cannot tackle barangay budgets for approval.

She pointed out that under a reenacted budget, only salaries for employees and essential operating expenses are allowed.

She however divulged that the 2019 Pamulinawen Festival will not be affected by the budget rejection as the funding for the event comes from sponsorships and solicitations.

Barangays’ budgets

Ms. Fariñas, speaking for the city’s 80 barangays, also expressed dismay on the budget’s disapproval.

“Kasi marigatan kami ta dagiti serbisyo a kasapulan kuma dagiti bumarangay ket saan tayo a maited ta saan pay ngarud a naaprubaran dagiti barangay budgets tayo,” the Laoag Liga ng mga Barangay president said.

She also warned that this issue will also cause delays on the approval of tricycle franchise renewals.

“Kayat na sawen saan met a mabalin a maipasada dagiiti tricycle da a saan pay a nairenew iti franchises da ta baka ket no matiliw da karaman na met nukwan a maapektaran iti pamilya dan ta awan met pagsapulan dan,” the council’s transportation committee stressed.