BY ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
WRONG presentation begets wrong interpretation.
This was exactly what happened to a simple press conference that, out of the blue, resulted to a “budget brouhaha” that rocked Bacolod City on Tuesday.
Worse, the media ended up like “hook and sinker” in the deliverance of the “falsehood” of information as to the current state of the city’s budget.
But like his asseverated promise to the people of Bacolod to be the “captain of the ship”, Mayor Albee Benitez, in his coolest actuation, “rescued” his mouthpiece, Atty. Bong Dilag, from possible drowning from “churlish” public opinions.
Thus, the mayor’s act can be labeled as “noteworthy” as it immediately cured the erroneous budget info before it “metastasizes” in the entire city, putting his very quest for truth and transparency at issue.
However, the bungling of facts and figures on the city’s budget even pushed Bacolod’s Lone District Cong. Greg Gasataya to somehow “alienate” himself from the rumpus.
In a chance interview at the New Government Center (NGC) on Wednesday afternoon, the solon simply referred the issue to Mayor Albee for any correction since he’d already done his part as head of the transition team by turning over all the documents from the previous to the new administration.
Question: What went wrong?
‘IT IS WHAT IT IS’
On Tuesday (July 5), Atty. Bong invited the media for a press conference at around 2 p.m. at the NGC.
The press con was all about the mandate of the new mayor to rid the city of “spaghetti wires”.
However, on the sideline, Atty. Bong voluntarily presented to the media the issue on the city’s budget.
Gist of his presentation with “gigil factor”: Only P153M left out of the city’s P3.5B for the current year.
So, simple Arithmetic dictates: P3.5 billion – P153 million = P3.3billion (something).
The media then interpreted (as is where is) that the administration of former mayor Bing Leonardia had spent this P3.3-B despite of the remaining two quarters for 2022.
This, as they repeatedly asked Atty. Bong, if he was really serious with his facts and figures, and he said: Yes!
Minutes after the press con, Atty. Bong’s pronouncement flooded the social media, including in the Albee Benitez Face Book (FB) page.
The post having the mayor’s foto with a ruffling face was titled (in all caps): “IT IS WHAT IT IS” with the supporting text : “P153 Million out of the P3.5 Billion Pesos annual budget is what’s left in the city from now until the end of the year.”
Such a “terrifying post” was then liked, hearted, and shared by many.
One netizen even commented: “Will Mayor Albee squeeze the blood out of stone?”
But hours after, the post in the mayor’s FB page was “mysteriously” deleted.
But then again, the following day (July 6), the budget issue still hogged the headlines of the local newspapers, online news, radio stations (AM and FM), among other media platforms.
As usual, the Bing’s camp reacted. Dr. Chris Sorongon, acting as Bing’s spokesman, in an official press statement, asked Atty. Bong: What happened to your Math?
“Is spreading fake news or black propaganda part of the change that you promise to bring to Bacolod?” the doctor furthered.
“Speak the truth, Sir (Atty. Bong)! Double check your claims. After all, you are supposed to be a Math major, right? Do not mislead the people or Bacolod thru propaganda. The election campaign has long been over,” Dr. Sorongon capped.
‘AIN’T DEPLETED’
So, right after he delivered his brief speech at the inaugural session of the city council also on Wednesday afternoon, the mayor voluntarily succumbed to an “ambush interview” by the media.
In a behaved and cool manner, Mayor Albee was necessitated to make a “point blank clarification” on the budget issue.
“The city’s budget ain’t depleted!” he punctuated.
What a simple line that artlessly “kippered” the mess.
Then, the mayor added certain clarification that the 22% remaining budget that includes the P153-M (solely for the Mayor’s office) as cited by Atty. Bong is for the job order (JO) workers and other services only.
“Ang iban nga budget ara pa man,” he stressed in Hiligaynon, adding, “the city has enough funds for priority projects in 2022.”
The mayor’s claim was also bolstered by documents I’ve personally obtained from the City Accounting Office that showed there’s still P1.6 billion remaining budget for 2022 or an equivalent of 51.80 percent of the P3.5 billion.
The remaining amount includes the more than P400-million budget for the salaries/wages of the city employees (July to December 2022).
Besides, the 3rd and 4th quarters’ allotments through the city’s Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) this year are yet to come still.
Also, Dr. Sorongon said based on documents they’ve turned over to the Benitez’s transition team, Bing’s administration (only) spent a total of 41.20% percent of the entire 2022 budget for the past two quarters.
‘MATH IS TRUTH’
Well, what happened was a classic example of the so-called data fallacy.
What’s data fallacy?
Google defines it as misuse of statistics which assets a misleading statistical argument, simply put basing the results on misleading information.
But per Simon Whittick, vice president of marketing for Appsumer in London, England, United Kingdom, “it’s a myth and trap that lie within data,”
“It ultimately leads us to drawing incorrect conclusion from data and making poor decisions,” Whittick added.
Thus, verily speaking, it’s quite sad that it (press con) happened so fast that it “overwhelmed” even the media.
Though Mayor Albee made a quicker move in correcting such a clutter, yet, doubt(s) are there already as to the “hype” against the previous administration.
The city’s budget is a sensitive matter. It dwells on subjects, including facts and figures leading to either financial stability or mutability. And whatever it’ll be, it warrants media attention.
Thus, Atty. Bong’s justification: “Sorry, I am really poor in Math that’s why I took up Law” can’t suffice the “impairment” in the media as well as in the image and credibility of the new administration caused by a “slipshod presentation”.
Nonetheless, it’s nice that he’s candid though.
But next time around, I think, Atty. Bong should be “morally responsible” in presenting mathematical facts and figures to the members of the Fourth Estate.
Because in a poem by Diane Robertson titled: “Truth begets truth” and “Math is universal truth.”
And though others can’t comprehend Math immediately, yet, Robertson explained: “Math begets Math upon Math upon Math.”/PN
