Solsona council junks 2021 AIP

Solsona Sangguniang Bayan member Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino (standing right) speaks during the deliberation of the annual investment plan (AIP) disapproval, which was moved by SB member Mark Dennis Del Castillo (seated left) while other members including Solsona vice mayor Bobby Sacro listen. Said motion for disapproval was later approved. (Doms Dela Cruz)

By Dominic B. dela Cruz (Staff Reporter)

Solsona, Ilocos Norte—The Sangguniang Bayan (SB) here disapproved the annual investment plan (AIP), which is a pre-requisite in the approval of the annual budget for CY 2021, on December 14, 2021 during their outreach session held at Barangay Talugtug in this municipality.

As a result of the lengthy discussion, the voting profile showed that five members of the Sanggunian disapproved the AIP, while three voted in favor with one member abstaining.

SB member Mark Dennis Del Castillo, who sponsored the measure said the reason for the disapproval was the “failure of different department heads concerned to attend despite of a series of invitations to ask permission thru Solsona mayor Joseph De Lara, which were all denied.

The invitation, Mr. Del Castillo said, is for the august body to have the chance to ask some questions relative to the AIP and the 20 percent development fund, which was incorporated in it.

“Kasanu ngarud ket saan datayo met pulos patgan. Alangan ngarud nga agaprob tayo lattan. Saan tayo a naipatugaw ken nabutosan tapnu agtugtugaw laeng nga aglossok iti tugaw iti sesyon. Nabutosan tayo tapnu agdamag ta isut kaadda tayo dita ket no mayat laketdi dagiti sungbat da apay kuma saan tayo nga aprubaran,” Mr. Del Castillo noted.

“If I will jump into conclusion ket baka adda kal-kaluban da,” he added.

Reacting to this, Mr. De Lara said the disapproval of the AIP, which subsequently resulted in the disapproval of the annual budget will affect the flow of government service in Solsona.

“Diay development plan ket saan a para kaniyak no di ket para kadagiti tattao. Isu nga iti dinis-approve da ket dagitay mapan kadagiti tattao ket no siyak diak ipilit no saan da a kayat,” Mr. De Lara stressed.

The mayor added he was surprised by the voting profile as to why Solsona Liga ng mga Barangay president Reynaldo Mariano and SB member Jovencio Pascua, chairperson of the committee on appropriations, voted “yes” for the disapproval and abstained, respectively considering that they are both members of the Municipal Development Council (MDC). The MDC was the body that first approved the AIP and the 20 percent development fund.

Mr. De Lara stated further that what the MDC approved in the AIP, especially on the programs, projects and activities (PPAs) have already been incorporated in the executive legislative agenda (ELA), which members of the Sangguniang Bayan also earlier approved.

The mayor, meanwhile, also admitted not allowing the department heads to attend the council sessions since they already attended a series of MDC meetings, which the ABC president and the chair of the committee on appropriations also attended.

“Daytoy ket saan a siyak parparigaten da no di ket dagiti tattao wennu umili iti parparigaten da. Manu la nga aldawen ket agtaposen. Ana ngarud ti ipakat tayo para kadagiti tattao ken dagiti umili isut gapu na nga saan da a panpununuten dagiti kakailian da,” the mayor emphasized.

 

Petition for mandamus

Prior to the disapproval, Mr. De Lara filed a petition for mandamus at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) due to failure of action by the SB relative on the proposed budget.

Mr. De Lara explained that the petition aims to seek help from the court for the Sangguniang Bayan to treat the proposed annual budget.

The mayor also disclosed that the proposed budget was submitted before the scheduled date of October 16, 2020 for review and approval by the Sangguniang Bayan as set by the Local Government Code.

MPDC officer Brennford Jake Nicolas, for his part, admitted that they have already attended sessions twice at the SP session hall regarding the contents of the AIP and the 20 percent development fund and all queries asked were answered.      

Municipal DILG officer Ferdinand Castro also stressed that the voting profile was considered as simple majority by the members present wherein the five votes in favor for the disapproval was accepted.

This is in response with the query Mr. Castro put forth that the voting should require 2/3 of the total member of the Sangguniang Bayan but since the measure does not require the 2/3 votes of the nine members present, the measure was approved.

Record shows that the proposed annual budget for next year is PHP142,039,754, a higher amount compared to this year’s budget of PHP134,850,527.