AFTER 30 days that our mayors and governors have assumed office after their election, what have they done?
Have they submitted a budget plan for their program of government and secured funding support for their implementation from the Sanggunian?
In private business, a Budget Planning and Control meeting by Management is the first order of the day and this is conducted as early as two or three months even before the start of the fiscal year that coincides with the calendar period from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31.
On the other hand, the government’s fiscal year is from July 1 when the new officials assume office after the elections and up to June 30th of the following year.
Even before assumption, they would make their appointments of key officials in their team to take over key positions in the new administration. Then they should set up a budget to implement their programs and submit it for approval of the new Sanggunian. Have they done this?
We have the Commission on Audit or COA which is a government agency that is supposed to examine the books and set up financial controls for government operation. There is the common problem of outgoing public officials leaving unliquidated cash advances whenever there is a change of administration. Many have overdrawn their limits and it is not unusual for big amounts to become bad debts.
Perhaps Congress should pass a law for local governments to hire auditors from certified public accountants in business to help COA conduct separate audits and include reports on performance and budget compliance similar to what is being done in private business when there are management changes or new assignments.
Also, something must be done to educate local governments on Budgeting and Control. In Iloilo City, our new lady lawmaker, Rep. “Jam-jam” Baronda, should include in her agenda to file a bill in Congress that will appoint public accountants as external auditors for local government in cities, municipalities and provinces in addition to those from COA. It will mean millions of savings from fund losses every year for better administration and control of public funds. We observed that under our present set-up, COA cannot cope up with their job and needs help.
Approving a budget to support the plans and programs of our officials in the municipality, city or province at the start of the term is a basic obligation of the Sanggunians.
The question is have the mayors or governors as head of their government units submitted their budgets by now for approval and funding of the programs they have espoused to implement for their administration during the campaign?
Incidentally, coinciding with the subject previously taken up in our column, we are glad to note that President Duterte mentioned in his SONA that he also wanted a law that will limit drinking establishments to close at midnight, even earlier than the 2 a.m. that we have in Iloilo City covered by an executive order.
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IDIOMS FOR THE ENLIGHTENED MIND
“A blessing in disguise: Something good that isn’t recognized at first.”
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