ILOILO – The provincial government has yet to release its P2-million budgetary assistance to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Iloilo.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. blamed this to the dillydallying of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s (SP) appropriations committee that is holding hearings on the province’s proposed P3.7-billion 2019 budget.
Every election year, the provincial government releases budgetary aid to Comelec-Iloilo. This is a “statutory obligation”, stressed Defensor.
Comelec would use the assistance for its election job hires, their mobility and food, according to the governor.
This year, Comelec is staging the midterm elections on May 13.
Last month, Defensor suggested that three SP members he blamed for the delayed approval of the province’s 2019 budget cough up P2 million for Comelec-Iloilo.
The three were Provincial Board members Dorothy Paes (chairperson of the appropriations committee), Emmanuel Gallar and Domingo Oso.
“Kon gusto nila disponderan nila. Ila sweldo i-tabon sa duha ka milyon,” said Defensor.
On the first week of January, officials of Comelec-Iloilo visited the provincial capitol and sought budgetary assistance.
Paes is a barangay captain from Dumangas, Iloilo. As president of the provincial federation of the Liga ng mga Barangay, she sits as officio member in the SP.
Paes is a political ally of Cong. Ferjenel Biron, candidate for governor against Governor Defensor’s son, Cong. Arthur Defensor Jr.
According to Defensor, the delay in the approval of the province’s 2019 budget is adversely affecting many.
For example, he said, the capitol was not able to release budgetary assistance, too, to the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation, Inc. and Iloilo Paraw Regatta Foundation, Inc.
The province’s budget for its athletic delegation to the ongoing Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association Meet in Roxas City was also affected.
In a timeline she bared last month, Paes set the following dates for the budget hearings:
* Jan. 30 to Feb. 1 – Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Public Employment and Services Office, Provincial Veterinary Office, Iloilo Sports Development and Management Office, Provincial Governor’s Office (Administrative Services), Governors-Administrative Supports Service (Parks and Grounds), and Internal Audit Service
* Feb. 6, 7, and 8 – Provincial Culture, Arts, History and Tourism Office, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Human Resource Management and Development Office, Public Attorney’s Office, Municipal Circuit Trial Court, and Provincial Engineer’s Office
* Feb. 13, 14 and 15 – Provincial Accountant’s Office, Provincial Treasurer’s Office, Provincial Budget Office, Department of Interior and Local Government-Iloilo, Provincial Health Office, and Hospital Management Office
* Feb. 20, 21 and 22 – Provincial Auditor’s Office, Provincial Assessor’s Office, Information and Communication Technology Office, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, Provincial Legal Office, and Bids and Awards Committee
* Feb. 27 to March 1 – Provincial Administrator’s Office, Provincial Task Force on Road Safety and Task Force on Overloading, San Joaquin Mother and Child Hospital, Provincial Planning and Development Office, Provincial Agriculture’s Office, Provincial Population Office, and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office
After these budget hearings, Paes would be making a committee report to be submitted to the SP plenary for the first, second and third readings./PN
